' 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


IN  MEMORY  OF 

Henry  Gutterson  1884-1954 


UNDINE 


Undine  outside  the  window 


UNDINE 


AlWTED-FROn-THE-GERttAN 
BY-  W-L-  COURTNEY  ^3& 
AND-  ILLUSTRATED  •  BY 


NEW-YORK  1919 

DOU&LEDAY'  PAGE-&*-C« 

LONDON 

WILLIAM  HEINEMANN 


Printed  in  Great  Britain. 


CONTENTS 


CHAP. 


PAGE 


I.  How  THE  KNIGHT  CAME  TO  THE  FISHERMAN  3 

II.  How  UNDINE  HAD  COME  TO  THE  FISHERMAN  12 

III.  How  UNDINE  WAS  FOUND  AGAIN  20 

IV.  OF  THAT  WHICH   BEFELL  THE    KNIGHT  IN   THE  WOOD          26 

V.  How  THE  KNIGHT  FARED  ON  THE  PENINSULA  35 

VI.  TELLETH  OF  A  WEDDING  42 
VII.  OF  ALL  THAT  CHANCED  ON  THE  EVENING  OF  THE 

WEDDING  50 

VIII.  THE  DAY  AFTER  THE  WEDDING  56 

IX.  How  THE  KNIGHT  BORE  AWAY  HIS  YOUNG  WIFE  64 

X.    HOW    THEY    FARED    IN    THE    ClTY  71 

XI.  BERTALDA'S  BIRTHDAY  76 

XII.    HOW    THEY   JOURNEYED    FROM    THE    ClTY  84 

XIII.  HOW    THEY    FARED    AT    CASTLE    RlNGSTETTEN  90 

XIV.  THE  BLACK  VALLEY  100 

XV.    HOW   THEY    JOURNEYED    TO    VIENNA  1 09 

XVI.    HOW    IT    FARED    FURTHER    WITH    HULDBRAND  117 

XVII.  THE  KNIGHT'S  DREAM  123 

XVIII.  How  THE  KNIGHT  HULDBRAND  is  MARRIED  127 

XIX.  How  THE  KNIGHT  HULDBRAND  WAS  BURIED  133 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Facing 

Undine  outside  the  window  Frontispiece 

At  the  back  of  this  little  tongue  of  land  there  lay  a  fearsome 
forest  right  perilous  to  traverse 

A  beautiful  little  girl  clad  in  rich  garments  stood  there  on  the 
threshold  smiling 

The  Infancy  of  Undine 

He  saw  by  the  moonlight  momentarily  unveiled,  a  little  island 
encircled  by  the  flood ;  and  there  under  the  branches  of 
the  overhanging  trees  was  Undine  22 

The  Knight  took  the  beautiful  girl  in  his  arms  and  bore  her 
over  the  narrow  space  where  the  stream  had  divided  her 
little  island  from  the  shore  24 

He  held  up  the  gold  piece,  crying  at  each  leap  of  his,  "  False 

gold  !  false  coin  !  false  coin  ! "  30 

At  length  they  all  pointed  their  stained  fingers  at  me  32 

When  the  storm  threatened  to  burst  on  their  heads,  she 
uttered  a  laughing  reproof  to  the  clouds.  "  Come, 
come,"  saith  she,  "  look  to  it  that  you  wet  us  not "  40 

"  Little  niece,"  said  Kiihleborn,  "  forget  not  that  I  am  here 

with  thee  as  a  guide  "  68 

Bertalda  76 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Facing 

«  She  hath  a  mark,  like  a  violet,  between  her  shoulders,  and 

another  like  it  on  the  instep  of  her  left  foot "  82 

Bertalda  in  the  Black  Valley  Ioo 

Soon  she  was  lost  to  sight  in  the  Danube  i  r  4 

He  could  see  Undine  beneath  the  crystal  vault  124 


UNDINE 


This  is  the  story  of  the  Knight  Huldbrand  of  T^ing- 
stetten  and  of  Undine,  telling  how  the  Knight  wedded 
with  a  water-sprite,  and  what  chanced  therefrom : 
and  how  the  Knight  died  and  was  buried:  and 
how  Undine  returned  to  her  element  beneath  the 
Mediterranean  Sea. 


UNDINE 


CHAPTER   I 

HOW  THE  KNIGHT  CAME  TO  THE  FISHERMAN 

Now  it  may  be  hundreds  of  years  agone  that  there 
lived  a  worthy  old  fisherman  :  and  he  was  seated  on 
a  fine  evening  before  his  door,  mending  his  nets 
The  part  of  the  country  where  he  lived  was  right 
pleasant  to  behold.  The  grassy  space  on  which  his 
cottage  stood  ran  far  into  the  lake,  and  perchance 
one  might  well  conceive  that  it  was  through  love  of 
the  clear  blue  waters  that  the  tongue  of  land  had 
stretched  itself  among  them ;  while  with  embrace  as 
close  and  as  loving  the  lake  sent  its  arms  round  the 

3 


4  UNDINE 

pleasaunce  where  the  flowers  bloomed  and  the  trees 
yielded  their  grateful  shade.  It  was  as  though  water 
welcomed  land  and  land  welcomed  water,  and  it  was 
this  made  both  so  lovely.  But  on  this  happy  sward 
the  fisherman  and  his  household  dwelt  alone.  Few 
human  beings,  or  rather  none  at  all,  even  cared  to  visit 
it.  For  you  must  know  that  at  the  back  of  this  little 
tongue  of  land  there  lay  a  fearsome  forest  right  perilous 
to  traverse.  It  was  dark  and  solitary  and  pathless, 
and  many  a  marvellous  strange  creature  and  many  a 
wraith  and  spectral  illusion  haunted  its  glades,  so  that 
none  might  dare  adventure  unless  a  sheer  necessity 
drave  them. 

Nathless,the  worthy  fisherman  might  pass  unharmed, 
whensoever  he  was  carrying  some  choice  fish  caught 
in  his  beautiful  home  to  a  large  town  bordering  the 
confines  of  the  forest.  He  was  a  man  full  of  holy 
thoughts,  and  as  he  took  his  way  through  the  gloomy 
shades  peopled  with  forms  of  dread,  he  was  wont  to 
sing  a  pious  chaunt  with  a  clear  voice,  and  an  honest 
heart,  and  a  conscience  void  of  guile. 

Well,  the  fisherman  sate  him  over  his  nets,  and  he 
minded  no  evil,  when  a  sudden  fear  came  over  him. 
He  thought  he  heard  a  rustling  noise  in  the  forest  as 
though  a  horse  and  rider  were  drawing  every  moment 
nearer  to  his  little  home.  And  it  seemed  as  though 
all  he  had  dreamed  on  many  a  stormy  night  of  the 
wizardry  of  the  forest  was  coming  to  his  ken,  and 
above  all,  the  semblance  of  a  snow-white  man  huge 


At  the  back  of  this  little  tongue  of  land  there  lay 
a  fearsome  forest  right  perilous  to  traverse 


•HOW  THE  KNIGHT  CAME  5 

and  terrible,  who  nodded  his  head  unceasingly  with 
vague  and  bodeful  portent.  Nay,  but  as  he  raised  his 
eyes  towards  the  wood,  he  thought  he  saw  the  nodding 
man  drawing  nigh  through  the  branches  of  the  trees. 
Yet  comfort  came  to  him  and  a  better  mind  :  for  he 
bethought  himself  how  no  evil  had  befallen  him  even 
in  the  forest  itself,  and  here  upon  the  open  tongue  of 
land  there  was  little  chance  of  evil  influences.  So  he 
said  aloud  a  verse  from  Holy  Writ,  repeating  it  with 
all  his  heart,  and  his  courage  came  back  so  that  he 
almost  laughed  at  the  vain  fancy  that  had  possessed 
him.  And  the  white  nodding  man  he  saw  to  be 
nothing  but  a  stream,  well-known  and  familiar,  which 
ran  foaming  from  the  forest  and  fell  into  the  lake. 
But  the  noise  he  had  heard  was  no  fancy.  It  was  in 
sooth  caused  by  a  gallant  knight,  bravely  apparelled, 
who  issued  forth  from  the  shadow  of  the  wood  and 
came  riding  towards  the  cottage.  A  scarlet  mantle 
was  thrown  over  his  doublet,  embroidered  with  gold ; 
red  and  violet  feathers  waved  from  his  golden-coloured 
headgear ;  and  a  beautiful  sword,  richly  dight,  flashed 
from  his  shoulder-belt.  The  white  horse  whereon  the 
knight  rode  was  more  slender  than  chargers  are  wont 
to  be,  and  as  he  trod  lightly  over  the  turf,  it  seemed  as 
though  the  green  and  flowery  carpet  took  no  harm 
from  the  print  of  his  hoofs. 

It  was  a  fair  and  comely  sight  to  see  the  knight 
advance.  Nathless,  the  old  fisherman  was  not  wholly 
at  his  ease,  albeit  that  he  told  himself  that  no  evil 


6  UNDINE 

might  come  to  him  from  so  much  beauty.  He  stayed, 
therefore,  quietly  busy  with  his  nets,  politely  taking  off 
his  head-gear  as  the  stranger  drew  near,  and  saying 
never  a  word. 

Presently  the  knight  came  up  and  asked  whether  he 
and  his  horse  might  have  shelter  and  care  for  the 
night. 

"  Fair  sir,"  quoth  the  fisherman,  "as  for  your  horse, 
I  may  give  him  no  better  stable  than  this  shady  meadow, 
and  no  better  provender  than  the  grass  that  groweth 
thereon,  But  for  yourself  I  bid  you  welcome  to  my 
cottage,  and  glad  shall  I  be  to  offer  such  supper  and 
lodging  as  we  have." 

Right  pleased  was  the  knight :  he  dismounted  forth- 
with, and  with  the  fisherman's  help  took  off  both  saddle 
and  bridle  from  the  horse,  letting  him  loose  upon  the 
flowery  green.  Then  turning  to  the  fisherman:  "Good 
fisherman,"  quoth  he,  "  I  thank  thee.  Yet  had  I  found 
thee  less  hospitable  and  kind,  methinks  thou  wouldst 
scarcely  have  got  quit  of  me  to-day.  For,  as  I  see, 
there  is  a  broad  lake  before  us,  and  behind  lieth  the 
wood.  God  forbid  that  I  should  ride  back  into  its 
mysterious  depths,  now  that  the  shades  of  night  are 
falling  " 

"  Nay,  nay,"  quoth  the  fisherman,  "  we  will  not 
speak  too  much  of  that ! '  So  he  led  his  guest  into 
the  cottage. 

Within,  beside  the  hearth,  whence  a  scanty  fire 
shed  a  dim  light  through  a  clean-swept  room,  was 


HOW  THE  KNIGHT  CAME  7 

sitting  the  fisherman's  old  wife  in  a  large  chair.  She 
rose  as  the  knight  entered  to  give  him  a  kindly  wel- 
come, but  seated  herself  again  in  the  chair  of  honour 
without  offering  it  to  her  guest.  Whereupon  saith  the 
fisherman,  with  a  smile,  "  Fair  sir,  thou  must  not  be 
angered  nor  take  it  amiss  that  she  hath  not  given  to 
thee  the  best  seat  in  the  house.  For  it  is  a  custom 
among  poor  people  that  only  the  aged  should  have  it." 

"Why,  husband,"  quoth  the  dame,  "of  what  art 
thou  thinking  ?  Doth  not  our  guest  belong  to  Christian 
folk,  and  how  then  might  it  come  into  his  head,  being 
of  good  young  blood,  to  drive  old  people  from  their 
seats  ?  Take  a  chair,  I  beseech  thee,  young  master," 
said  she,  turning  to  the  knight.  "  Pretty  enough  is  the 
chair  over  yonder.  Only  treat  it  not  with  roughness, 
I  beg  thee,  for  one  of  its  legs  is  none  of  the  soundest." 

Then  the  knight  took  the  chair  with  care  and  seated 
himself  upon  it  in  all  good  humour  ;  for  indeed  it 
seemed  to  him  as  though  he  were  kinsman  to  this 
little  household,  and  had  but  just  come  back  from 
abroad. 

The  three  soon  began  to  talk  in  friendly  and  familiar 
manner.  As  to  the  forest,  indeed,  concerning  which 
the  knight  asked  some  questions,  the  old  man  showed 
no  desire  to  speak  at  large ;  for  it  was  not  a  subject, 
it  seemed  to  him,  to  discuss  at  nightfall.  But  of  their 
home  and  former  life  the  old  couple  spoke  freely,  and 
listened  eagerly  enough  when  the  knight  discoursed  to 
them  on  his  travels,  and  how  he  had  a  castle  near  the 


8  UNDINE 

source  of  the  Danube,  and  how  he  was  hight  Sir 
Huldbrand  of  Ringstetten.  While  the  talk  went  on 
pleasantly  and  eagerly,  the  knight  became  aware  that 
now  and  again  there  was  a  splashing  sound  at  the 
little  low  window,  as  though  some  one  were  throwing 
water  against  it.  Each  time  the  splash  came,  the  old 
man  knit  his  browand  seemed  marvellouslydistempered. 
But  when  at  length  a  whole  shower  dashed  against  the 
panes  and  bubbled  into  the  room  through  the  decayed 
window-frame,  he  rose,  with  anger  in  his  face,  and 
called  out  in  threatening  tones  :  "  Undine,"  cried  he, 
"  wilt  thou  for  once  leave  off  these  childish  pranks  ? 
And  to-day  there  is  the  more  reason,  for  that  there  is  a 
stranger  knight  with  us  in  the  cottage." 

All  grew  silent  without ;  only  a  low  laugh  was  faintly 
heard,  and  the  fisherman,  as  he  came  back  from  the 
window,  addressed  himself  to  the  stranger.  "  Honoured 
sir,"  quoth  he,  "  thou  must  needs  pardon  such  tricks, 
and  perchance  many  a  freakish  whim  besides.  For 
indeed,  she  meaneth  no  harm.  It  is  but  our  foster- 
child,  Undine,  who  though  she  hath  already  entered 
her  eighteenth  year,  will  not  wean  herself  from  such 
childishness.  Nathless,  as  I  have  said,  she  hath  a 
good  heart." 

"  Nay,  thou  mayest  talk,"  quoth  the  old  dame. 
"  Certes,  when  thou  comest  home  from  fishing  or  a 
journey  her  frolics  may  please  thee  well  enough.  But 
an  thou  hadst  her  with  thee  the  whole  day  long,  and 
heard  not  a  sensible  word,  and  so  far  from  being  a 


HOW  THE  KNIGHT  CAME  9 

help  in  the  housekeeping  as  she  grew  older,  found  that 
it  was  only  by  much  care  and  anxiety  she  could  be 
kept  from  ruining  us  altogether  by  her  follies — that 
meseemeth,  is  quite  another  thing ;  nor  could  the 
patience  of  a  saint  fail  to  be  worn  out  at  last." 

"Ay,  ay,"  quoth  the  fisherman  with  a  smile,  "  thou 
hast  thy  troubles  with  the  girl,  and  I  have  mine  with 
the  lake.  Often  it  breaketh  through  my  dams  and 
teareth  my  nets  to  pieces.  Yet  I  love  it ;  and  so  too 
dost  thou  love  the  pretty  elf,  for  all  the  torment  and 
vexation  she  bringeth.  Is  it  not  so?  " 

"  Nay,"  quoth  the  dame,  "  'tis  impossible  to  be  angry 
with  her,  and  that  is  the  truth."  And  she  smiled,  well 
pleased. 

Then  of  a  sudden  the  door  flew  open  and  lo !  a 
strangely  fair  and  beautiful  maiden  glided  into  the 
room,  with  happy  laughter  on  her  lips.  "  Thou  hast 
jested  with  me,  father,"  saith  she,  "for  where  is  thy 
guest  ? ' 

And  then  she  saw  him.  Full  of  wonder  and  amaze- 
ment she  stood  watching  the  handsome  knight ;  while 
Huldbrand,  on  his  part,  looked  with  all  the  more 
earnestness  at  her  beautiful  face,  because  he  deemed 
that  it  was  but  her  momentary  surprise  which  lent  her 
so  strange  a  charm.  Right  soon,  he  thought,  will  she 
turn  away  her  eyes  and  become  all  the  more  bashful 
and  composed.  But  it  was  not  so.  When  she  had 
gazed  her  full,  she  drew  near  to  him  confidingly,  and 
knelt  at  his  feet ;  and  while  she  played  with  a  gold 


io  UNDINE 

medal  hanging  from  a  rich  chain  on  his  breast,  she 
whispered  : 

"  Kind  sir  and  handsome  guest,  why  then  is  it  that 
thou  art  come  at  last  to  our  poor  cottage  ?  Hast  thou 
wandered  about  the  world  for  years  and  only  now 
found  thy  way  ?  Is  it  out  of  that  wild  forest  that  thou 
comest,  my  beautiful  knight  ?  " 

The  quick  reproof  of  the  angry  beldame  gave  him 
no  moment  for  reply.  Sternly  she  bade  the  maiden 
behave  herself  seemly,  and  go  to  her  work.  But 
Undine,  minding  not  a  jot  for  all  her  words,  drew  a 
little  footstool  close  to  Huldbrand's  chair  and  sat 
down  on  it  with  her  spinning.  "  It  is  here  that  I 
will  work,"  quoth  she.  The  old  man  did,  as  parents 
are  wont  to  do  with  spoilt  children.  He  made  as 
though  he  had  marked  naught  of  Undine's  wilfulness, 
and  was  beginning  to  talk  of  something  else.  But 
this  the  girl  would  not  suffer.  "  I  have  asked,"  said 
she,  "  our  beautiful  guest  whence  he  cometh,  and  he 
hath  not  answered  me  as  yet." 

"I  come,"  saith  Huldbrand,  "from  the  forest." 

Then  said  she,  "  Thou  must  tell  me  how  you  came 
there,  for  all  men  dread  it :  and  what  marvellous 
adventures  befell  thee,  for  without  some  strange  things 
of  the  sort  no  man  can  win  his  way." 

Now  Huldbrand  shuddered  at  the  memory,  and  as 
he  looked  towards  the  window,  it  seemed  as  though 
one  of  the  weird  figures  he  had  met  in  the  forest  were 
pushing  in  his  grinning  face  ;  but  it  was  but  the  deep 


HOW  THE  KNIGHT  CAME  11 

dark  night  that  he  saw,  shrouding  everything  without. 
So  he  collected  himself  and  was  about  to  begin  his 
tale,  when  the  fisherman  broke  in.  "  Sir  Knight," 
quoth  he,  "  this  is  no  fit  hour  for  such  discourse  as  this." 
Whereupon  Undine  sprang  angrily  from  her  stool, 
and  standing  straight  before  the  old  man  with  her 
little  hands  pressed  to  her  sides,  "  Father,"  cried  she, 
"  he  is  not  to  tell  his  story  ?  He  shall  not  ?  But  I 
will  have  it!  It  is  my  will!  He  shall,  in  spite  of 
you  ! "  And  she  stamped  her  foot  on  the  floor. 

Now,  albeit  that  she  was  violent  enough,  she  wore 
through  all  her  fury  so  comic  a  grace  that  Huldbrand 
could  but  the  more  eagerly  watch  her  anger  than  at 
first  he  did  her  gentleness.  But  far  other  did  it  fare 
with  the  fisherman.  His  wrath,  which  hitherto  he  had 
suppressed,  burst  forth  in  open  flame,  and  with  harsh 
words  he  reproved  Undine's  disobedience  and  un- 
mannerly behaviour  towards  the  stranger,  his  good 
old  wife  joining  with  him  heartily.  But  Undine  cared 
not  a  jot.  "  If  ye  choose  to  scold,"  cried  she,  "and 
will  not  do  what  I  want,  ye  may  sleep  alone  in  your 
smoky  old  hut !  "  And  like  an  arrow  she  was  at  the 
door  and  out  into  the  dark  night. 


CHAPTER   II 

HOW  UNDINE  HAD  COME  TO  THE  FISHERMAN 

Now  when  she  had  gone,  both  Huldbrand  and  the 
fisherman  sprang  from  their  seats  and  were  bent  on 
following  the  angry  girl.  But  before  they  had  reached 
the  cottage  door,  Undine  had  long  vanished  in  the 
darkness  without,  and  not  a  sound  of  her  light  footstep 
betrayed  whither  she  had  gone.  Huldbrand  looked 
questioningly  at  his  host.  "  Perchance,"  he  mused  to 
himself,  "  this  sweet  vision,  which  hath  gone  back  again 
into  the  night,  is  but  one  of  those  marvellous  shapes 
which,  a  short  while  agone,  played  their  mad  tricks 
upon  me  in  the  forest." 

But    the    old    man    muttered    between   his    teeth : 


12 


HOW  UNDINE  HAD  COME  13 

"This  is  not  the  first  time  that  she  hath  treated 
us  thus.  Now  shall  we  have  aching  hearts  and  sleep- 
less eyes  the  livelong  night  ;  for  who  knoweth  but 
that  she  may  sometime  come  to  harm,  if  she  remaineth 
alone  in  the  dark  until  daylight  ?  " 

"Then  for  God's  sake,"  cried  the  knight,  "let  us 
follow  her  forthwith  !  " 

"  And  what  would  be  the  use  ?  "  returned  the  old 
man.  "It  would  be  a  sin  were  I  to  let  you  pursue 
the  foolish  girl  in  solitude  and  darkness  ;  while  as  for 
me,  my  old  limbs  could  not  catch  the  runaway,  even 
if  we  knew  whither  she  had  gone." 

"  Nathless,"  quoth  Huldbrand,  "  let  us  at  least  call 
after  her  and  beg  her  to  come  back ; "  and  eagerly  did 
he  raise  his  voice,  "  Undine  !  Undine  !  Come  back !  " 

But  the  old  man  shook  his  head.  "  Little  good  will 
shouting  serve,"  saith  he.  "  Thou  knowest  not  her 
perversity."  And  yet  he  too  could  not  forbear  to  call, 
"Undine!  Undine!  Come  back,  I  beg  you,  come 
back — if  only  this  once  !  " 

It  came  to  pass,  however,  as  the  fisherman  had  sur- 
mised. No  Undine  could  be  seen  or  heard,  and  since 
the  old  man  could  by  no  means  suffer  that  Huldbrand 
should  go  forth  alone,  they  had  perforce  to  return  to  the 
cottage.  There  they  found  the  fire  almost  extinguished 
on  the  hearth,  while  the  old  wife,  to  whom  Undine's 
flight  and  danger  seemed  of  far  smaller  moment  than 
they  did  to  her  husband,  had  already  retired  to  rest. 
The  fisherman  bestirred  himself  to  blow  up  the 


I4  UNDINE 

embers,  and  put  fresh  wood  upon  them  ;  and  by  the 
light  of  the  kindling  flame  he  sought  out  a  tankard 
of  wine,  which  he  placed  between  himself  and  his 
guest. 

"  Sir  Knight,"  quoth  he,  "  I  perceive  that  thou 
too  art  disturbed  about  the  silly  girl.  It  were  better, 
methinks,  that  we  both  should  talk  and  drink  and  so 
pass  the  night,  than  that  we  should  toss  sleeplessly 
upon  our  rush  mats.  Is  it  not  so  ?  " 

Huldbrand  readily  agreed.  The  fisherman  made 
him  take  the  old  housewife's  seat  of  honour,  and  there- 
upon they  drank  and  talked  as  beseemed  two  honest 
and  worthy  men.  Howbeit,  as  often  as  anything 
seemed  to  move  before  the  windows,  or  even  at  times 
when  nothing  was  moving,  one  of  the  two  would  start, 
and  look  up  and  whisper,  "  She  is  coming  !  "  And  then 
they  would  be  silent  for  a  space,  and  when  nothing 
appeared  they  would  shake  their  heads  with  a  sigh,  and 
resume  their  talk.  Yet,  as  neither  of  them  could  help 
but  think  of  Undine,  naught  pleased  them  better  than 
that  the  fisherman  should  tell,  and  the  knight  should 
hear,  the  story  how  Undine  had  first  come  to  the 
cottage.  So  the  fisherman  began,  as  followeth  : 

"It  may  be,"  saith  he,  "  some  fifteen  years  ago 
that  I  was  one  day  passing  through  that  wild  forest 
to  sell  my  fish  at  the  city.  As  for  my  wife,  she  was 
resting  at  home,  as  is  her  wont ;  and  at  that  time,  I 
wis,  for  a  happy  cause,  for  God  had  given  us  two  old 
people  a  marvellously  fair  child.  A  girl  she  was ;  and 


HOW  UNDINE  HAD  COME  15 

it  had  come  into  our  minds  whether  for  the  sake  of 
the  new  comer  it  might  be  a  wiser  course  to  leave  this 
beautiful  home,  and  seek  a  more  habitable  spot  in 
which  to  bring  up  our  treasure.  Poor  folk,  as  thou 
dost  know,  Sir  Knight,  have  not  always  full  liberty 
in  such  cases  ;  but,  Heaven  helping,  each  must  do  as 
he  can.  Now  the  matter  somewhat  troubled  me,  as  I 
went  along,  for  this  slip  of  land  was  dear  to  me,  and 
I  bethought  me  with  a  shudder  amid  the  noise  and 
brawls  of  the  city,  how  it  might  come  to  pass  that 
in  such  a  bustle,  or  in  some  scene  not  much  quieter, 
I  should  have  perforce  to  take  up  my  abode.  Nath- 
less,  no  murmur  against  the  good  God  passed  my 
lips.  Nay,  I  thanked  him  in  secret  for  my  new-born 
babe.  Nor  yet  can  I  say  that  aught  befell  me,  either 
going  or  returning,  out  of  the  common  way.  At  that 
time  nothing  had  I  seen  of  the  marvels  and  portents 
of  the  wood.  The  Lord  was  ever  with  me  in  its 
mysterious  shades." 

At  that  he  lifted  his  cap  reverently  from  his  bald 
head,  and  stayed  for  a  while  musing  with  prayerful 
thoughts.  Then,  covering  himself  once  more,  he  went 
on  as  followeth : 

"Alack,"  saith  he,  "on  this  side  of  the  forest  a 
great  sorrow  awaited  me.  With  tears  in  her  eyes, 
and  all  clad  in  mourning,  my  wife  came  to  meet  me. 
'O  gracious  God,'  I  sobbed,  'where  is  our  child?' 

11 '  Our  child  is  with  Him  on  whom  thou  hast  called/ 
returned  she. 


16  UNDINE 

"  We  entered  the  cottage  together,  weeping  silently. 
And  then,  when  I  had  looked  round  for  the  little  corpse 
and  found  it  not,  I  learnt  all  that  had  chanced.  My 
wife  had  sat  her  down  with  the  child  by  the  edge  of 
the  lake.  Right  happily  was  she  playing  with  it,  and 
void  of  all  fear,  when  on  a  sudden  the  little  one  bent 
forward,  as  though  she  had  seen  something  marvel- 
lously fair  beneath  the  waves.  My  wife  saw  her  laugh, 
the  dear  angel,  and  put  forth  her  little  hands :  and  in 
a  moment  she  had  sprung  out  of  her  arms  and  disap- 
peared beneath  the  glittering  mirror  of  the  lake. 
Anxiously  and  long  did  I  seek  for  our  lost  one;  but 
it  was  all  in  vain.  No  trace  of  her  was  to  be 
found. 

"That  selfsame  evening  we  were  sitting,  childless 
and  alone,  in  the  cottage.  Neither  had  any  pleasure 
in  talk,  nor  indeed  would  our  tears  have  allowed  it. 
It  seemed  better  to  gaze  into  the  fire  and  utter  never 
a  word.  On  a  sudden,  something  rustled  outside 
the  door,  which  straightway  opened ;  and  lo !  a 
beautiful  little  girl,  clad  in  rich  garments,  stood  there 
on  the  threshold,  smiling  at  us.  Marvellously  astonied 
were  we ;  as  for  me,  I  wist  not  whether  it  might  be 
illusion  or  reality  on  which  I  gazed.  But  I  saw  the 
water  dripping  from  her  golden  hair  and  her  rich  gar- 
ment, and  methought  the  pretty  child  had  been  lying 
in  the  water  and  needed  our  help.  '  Good  wife,'  said 
I,  'no  one  hath  been  able  to  save  our  dear  one;  let 
us,  at  least,  do  for  others  what  would  have  been  so 


A  beautiful  little  girl  clad  in  rich  garments 
stood  there  on  the  threshold  smiling 


HOW  UNDINE  HAD  COME  17 

blessed  a  boon  for  ourselves.'  So  we  took  the  little 
one  and  undressed  her,  put  her  to  bed  and  gave  her 
something  warm ;  but  she,  meanwhile,  spoke  not  a 
word.  Only  she  smiled  upon  us  with  eyes  full  of  the 
colour  of  lake  and  sky. 

"  Next  morning  we  saw  at  once  that  she  had  taken 
no  hurt  from  her  wetting,  and  methought  I  should  ask 
her  about  her  parents,  and  by  what  odd  chance  she 
had  come  hither.  But  full  strange  and  confused  was 
the  account  that  she  gave.  Far  away  from  here  must 
she  have  been  born  ;  for,  during  these  fifteen  years  past, 
not  a  word  have  I  learnt  of  her  parentage.  Moreover, 
both  then  and  since,  her  talk  has  been  of  such  strange 
things  that,  for  aught  we  can  tell,  she  may  have  dropped 
down  to  us  from  the  moon  !  Golden  castles,  crystal 
domes — of  such  does  she  prattle,  and  I  know  not  what 
marvels  beside.  The  simplest  and  clearest  tale  she 
tells  is  that,  being  out  with  her  mother  on  the  great 
lake  she  fell  into  the  water,  and  that  she  only  came  to 
her  senses  here  under  the  trees,  when  she  found 
herself  with  joy  on  this  right  happy  shore. 

"  Certes,  we  have  had  our  fill  of  misgiving  and 
perplexities.  It  was  our  mind  forthwith  to  keep  the 
child  we  had  found,  and  to  bring  her  up  in  the  place  of 
our  lost  darling  ;  but  who  could  reveal  to  us  whether 
she  had  been  baptized  or  no  ?  On  this  matter  she  had 
naught  to  tell  us.  When  we  questioned  her,  it  was 
her  wont  to  answer  that  she  knew  full  well  that  she 
was  created  for  God's  praise  and  glory,  and  that  what- 


i8  UNDINE 

ever  might  appertain  to  God's  praise  and  glory  she 
was  well  content  should  be  done  to  her. 

"  Now  it  seemed  to  my  wife  and  to  me  that,  an 
she  had  not  been  baptized,  there  was  no  time  for 
delay ;  whereas,  an  she  had,  we  could  not  repeat 
a  good  thing  too  often.  So,  thinking  it  out,  we 
sought  for  a  good  name  for  the  child,  for  we  were 
often  at  a  loss  what  to  call  her.  And,  as  we  pon- 
dered, it  seemed  that  Dorothea  might  be  the  best 
name,  for  I  had  heard  that  it  signifieth  a  gift  of  God, 
and  full  sure  had  she  been  sent  to  us  by  God  as  a  gift 
and  comfort  in  our  woe.  But  she  would  not  hear 
of  this ;  it  irked  her  sore  ;  Undine,  she  said,  her 
parents  had  named  her,  and  Undine  she  still  would 
be.  Now  this  appeared  to  me  to  be  but  a  heathenish 
name,  not  to  be  found  in  any  calendar ;  and  for  this 
reason  I  took  counsel  of  a  priest  in  the  city.  He 
approved  the  name  no  better  than  I  did  :  but  yet 
at  my  prayer  he  came  with  me  through  the  forest 
in  order  to  perform  the  right  of  baptism  here  in  my 
cottage.  So  prettily  clad  was  the  little  one,  so  sweetly 
did  she  bear  herself,  that  she  at  once  won  the  priest's 
heart.  With  such  soft  speech  and  cozening  words  did 
she  flatter  him,  using  the  while  such  merry  mockery, 
that  he  could  remember  none  of  the  grave  arguments 
he  thought  to  use  against  the  name  Undine.  Undine, 
therefore,  was  she  baptized  ;  and  while  the  ceremony 
went  on  she  held  herself  with  much  simplicity  and 
sweetness,  and  seemed  to  have  forgotten  all  the  wild 


The  Infancy  of  Undine 


HOW  UNDINE  HAD  COME  19 

and  untamed  restlessness  of  her  daily  behaviour.  For 
indeed,  Sir  Knight,  my  wife  was  wholly  in  the  right 
when  she  told  you  that  she  hath  been  most  difficult  to 
bear  with.  If  I  were  to  tell " 

And  here  the  knight  stayed  the  fisherman's  talk. 
He  would  fain  call  his  notice  to  a  sound  of  rushing 
waters  which  ever  and  anon  had  caught  his  ear  while 
the  old  man  rambled  on.  Now  the  water  seemed  to 
burst  against  the  cottage  window  with  redoubled  force, 
and  both  sprang  to  the  door.  There,  by  the  light  of 
the  lately  risen  moon,  they  saw  the  brook,  which  came 
from  the  forest,  wildly  overflowing  its  banks,  and 
sweeping  away  stones  and  tree-trunks  in  its  impetuous 
course.  The  storm,  as  if  awakened  by  the  tumult, 
broke  furiously  from  the  clouds  that  passed  swiftly 
over  the  moon  :  the  lake  howled  under  the  mad 
buffet  of  the  wind  :  the  trees  of  the  little  peninsula 
groaned  from  root  to  topmost  bough,  and  bent  dizzily 
over  the  surging  waters. 

"  Undine!  For  Heaven's  sake,  Undine!  "  cried  the 
two  men  in  terror.  Not  a  word  came  back  in  answer, 
and  without  further  thought  they  rushed  out  of  the 
cottage,  one  in  this  direction,  the  other  in  that,  search- 
ing and  calling  for  Undine. 


CHAPTER  III 

HOW  UNDINE  WAS  FOUND  AGAIN 

HEREUPON  the  story  telleth  how  Huldbrand  fared  in 
his  search  for  Undine. 

The  longer  he  sought  for  her  beneath  the  shades  of  the 
trees  and  found  her  not,  the  more  anxious  and  distraught 
did  he  become.  Once  more  the  thought  that  Undine 
was  but  a  phantom,  a  vision  caused  by  the  mysterious 
forest,  took  possession  of  him.  Indeed,  as  the  waves 
howled  and  the  tempest  roared,  and  the  trees  crashed 
down  in  ruin,  the  complete  change  and  contrast  in  a 
scene  which  had  been  but  a  few  moments  agone  so 
peaceful  and  beautiful,  made  him  marvel  whether 
peninsula,  cottage  and  fisherman  were  not  all  a 


20 


mockery  and  an  illusion.  Yet  still  from  afar  he  could 
hear  through  the  din  the  cries  of  the  old  man  for 
Undine,  and  the  wife's  loud  prayers  and  hymns. 

At  length  cometh  he  to  the  brink  of  the  swollen 
stream  and  marked  how  it  had  driven  its  wild  course 
right  in  front  of  the  forest,  so  that  the  peninsula  was 
turned  into  an  island.  "Ah,  God,"  he  thought,  "it 
might  well  be  that  Undine  has  adventured  herself 
into  that  fearful  wood — perchance  in  her  pretty  petu- 
lance because  I  was  not  allowed  to  tell  her  aught  of  its 
horrors ;  and  now  behold  how  the  stream  severs  us 
from  her,  and  she  may  well  be  weeping  on  the  other 
side  alone,  among  ghosts  and  spectres  !  "  Sharply  did 
he  cry  out  in  his  terror,  and  swiftly  did  he  clamber 
down  some  rocks  and  uprooted  pine-stems,  that  he 
might  reach  the  raging  stream  and  by  wading  or 
swimming  across  find  the  fugitive  on  the  other  side. 
He  bethought  him  of  all  the  shapes  of  wonder  and 
fear  that  he  had  encountered  even  in  daylight  beneath 
the  branches  that  now  rustled  and  roared  so  cease- 
lessly. And  more  than  all,  it  seemed  to  him  as 
though  on  the  opposite  shore  a  tall  man  in  white, 
whom  he  knew  only  too  well,  were  grinning  and 
nodding  at  him  in  mockery.  It  was  these  very 
monstrous  forms  which  urged  him  to  cross  the  flood, 
as  he  bethought  him  that  Undine  might  be  among 
them,  alone  in  her  agony. 

Now,  as  he  grasped  the  stout  branch  of  a  pine  and 
stood,  supporting  himself  by  it  in  the  midst  of  the 


22  UNDINE 

current,  which  only  with  all  his  force  could  he  with- 
stand ;  and  while  yet  with  unblenching  courage  he 
pressed  further  into  the  stream  :  he  heard  a  soft  voice 
which  said  to  him,  "Venture  not,  venture  not;  full 
crafty  is  that  old  man,  the  stream ! "  He  knew  the 
sweet  tones  :  he  stood  there,  beneath  the  shadows 
which  shrouded  the  moon,  as  though  in  a  trance,  all 
dizzy  and  bewildered  in  the  waves  which  were  now 
rapidly  rising  up  to  his  very  waist.  Nathless  he 
would  not  desist. 

"If  thou  are  not  really  there,  if  thou  art  but  a 
floating  mist,  then  let  me  too  cease  to  live  and  become 
a  shadow  like  thee,  thou  dear  Undine ! "  Crying 
these  words  aloud,  he  stepped  deeper  still  into  the 
waters. 

14  Look  round,  look  round,''  came  a  voice  to  his  ear ; 
and  as  he  turned  he  saw  by  the  moonlight,  momentarily 
unveiled,  a  little  island  encircled  by  the  flood  ;  and 
there  under  the  branches  of  the  overhanging  trees  was 
Undine,  smiling  and  nestling  happily  in  the  flowery 
grass. 

Ah,  how  much  more  joyously  now  than  before  did 
the  knight  use  the  aid  of  his  stout  pine-branch ! 
Nimbly  he  crossed  the  flood,  and  stood  beside  the 
maiden  on  a  little  plot  of  grass,  safely  guarded  and 
screened  by  the  good  old  trees.  Undine  half  raised 
herself  from  the  ground,  and  under  the  green  leafy 
tent,  throwing  her  arms  round  his  neck,  she  drew  the 
knight  down  beside  her  on  her  soft  couch. 


He  saw  by  the  moonlight  momentarily  unveiled, 
a  little  island  encircled  by  the  flood ;  and  there 
under  the  branches  of  the  overhanging  trees  was 
Undine 


HOW  UNDINE  WAS  FOUND  AGAIN      23 

"  Beautiful  friend,"  whispered  she,  "  thou  shalt  tell 
me  thy  story  here.  Here  the  cross  old  people  cannot 
hear  us.  And  our  roof  of  leaves  giveth  us  as  good 
shelter  as  their  poor  old  hut !  " 

"Nay,  but  it  is  Paradise  itself!"  quoth  Huldbrand, 
as  he  covered  her  face  with  eager  kisses. 

Meantime  the  fisherman  had  come  to  the  edge  ol 
the  stream  and  raised  his  voice  to  the  young  people. 
"  Why,  how  is  this,  Sir  Knight  ? "  said  he,  "  I  wel- 
comed thee  as  one  honest  man  may  welcome  another, 
and  behold,  I  find  thee  playing  in  secret  the  lover 
with  my  foster-child,  and  leaving  me  the  while  to  run 
hither  and  thither  through  the  night  in  search  of 
her!" 

"  I  have  only  just  found  her  myself,  old  father," 
returned  the  knight. 

"So  much  the  better,"  was  the  answer;  "and  now 
bring  her  across  forthwith  to  firm  ground." 

But  this  Undine  would  by  no  means  allow.  She 
protested  that  she  would  rather  go  with  the  stranger 
into  the  depths  of  the  forest  than  return  to  the  cottage 
where  no  one  would  do  what  she  wished,  and  from 
which  the  knight  himself  would  sooner  or  later  depart. 
Then,  again  throwing  her  arms  round  Huldbrand,  sne 
sang  with  pretty  grace  : 

A  stream  flowed  forth  of  a  darkling  vale 

And  sought  the  bright  sea-shore : 
In  the  ocean's  depths  it  found  a  home 

And  never  returned  more ! 


24  UNDINE 

The  old  man  wept  bitterly  at  her  song,  but  this 
seemed  not  to  move  her  a  jot.  She  was  all  for  kissing 
and  caressing  her  new  friend,  until  he  said  to  her, 
"  Undine,  if  the  old  man's  grief  touch  not  thy  heart,  it 
toucheth  mine  ;  let  us  go  back  to  him." 

She  opened  wide  her  large  eyes  in  wonder,  and 
spoke  at  last  slowly  and  hesitatingly.  "  If  this  be  thy 
wish,  well  and  good.  What  is  right  for  thee  is  right 
for  me.  But  the  old  man  yonder  must  first  give  me 
his  word  that  he  will  let  thee  tell  me  what  thou  sawest 
in  the  wood  and — other  things  will  follow  as  they 
must." 

"  Come,  only  come,"  cried  the  fisherman,  unable  to 
utter  another  word.  He  stretched  his  hands  to  her 
across  the  rushing  stream,  and  as  he  nodded  his  head 
as  though  in  fulfilment  of  her  request,  his  white  hair 
fell  strangely  over  his  face  in  such  sort  that  Huldbrand 
bethought  himself  of  the  nodding  white  man  of  the 
forest.  But  not  letting  himself  think  of  anything  that 
might  baffle  or  confuse  him,  the  knight  took  the  beau- 
tiful girl  in  his  arms  and  bore  her  over  the  narrow 
space  where  the  stream  had  divided  her  little  island 
from  the  shore. 

The  old  man  fell  on  Undine's  neck  and  seemed  as 
though  he  could  never  have  his  fill  of  joy  ;  his  good 
wife  also  came  up  and  with  great  tenderness  kissed 
her  recovered  child.  No  word  of  reproach  passed 
their  lips,  and  even  Undine,  forgetting  all  her  petu- 
lance, almost  overwhelmed  her  foster-parents  with 


The  Knight  took  the  beautiful  girl  in  his  arms 
and  bore  her  over  the  narrow  space  where  the 
stream  had  divided  her  little  island  from  the  shore 


HOW  UNDINE  WAS  FOUND  AGAIN      25 

loving  endearments.  When  at  last  they  had  recovered 
themselves  of  their  transports,  lo,  it  was  already  dawn 
and  the  lake  shone  rosy  red.  Peace  had  followed 
storm  and  the  little  birds  were  singing  merrily  on  the 
dripping  branches.  And  now  when  Undine  insisted  on 
hearing  the  knight's  story,  the  old  couple  smiled  and 
readily  acceded  to  her  wish.  They  brought  out 
breakfast  under  the  trees  which  screened  the  cottage 
from  the  lake  and  then  sate  down  with  thankful  hearts. 
Undine,  because  she  must  needs  have  it  so,  Jay  on  the 
grass  at  Huldbrand's  feet,  the  while  he  proceeded  with 
his  story. 


CHAPTER  IV 

OF  THAT  WHICH  BEFELL  THE  KNIGHT 
IN  THE  WOOD 

Now  this  is  what  Huldbrand  told  of  the  things  that  had 
befallen  him.  "  Eight  days  agone,"  saith  he,  "  I  rode 
into  the  imperial  city  which  is  on  the  other  side  of  the 
forest.  And  it  chanced  that,  hard  on  my  arrival,  there 
was  a  splendid  tournament  and  running  at  the  ring, 
and  certes,  I  spared  neither  horse  nor  lance.  Once,  as 
I  stood  still  at  the  lists,  resting  after  the  toil  that  I 
loved,  and  was  handing  my  helmet  back  to  my  squire, 
lo,  I  espied  a  very  beautiful  woman  standing,  richly 
dight,  in  one  of  the  spectators'  galleries. 

"  I  asked  those  about  me  and  learnt  that  the  name 
of  the  lady  was  Bertalda,  and  that  she  was  the  foster- 
daughter  of  a  mighty  duke  in  the  land.  Now  her  eyes 
rested  on  me,  as  mine  on  her ;  and  as  is  the  wont  of 

26 


OF  THAT  WHICH  BEFELL  THE  KNIGHT  27 

young  knights,  forasmuch  as  I  had  already  ridden 
bravely,  I  bore  myself  for  the  rest  of  the  encounter 
with  yet  higher  courage.  That  evening  I  was  Ber- 
talda's  partner  in  the  dance,  and  so  I  remained  all  the 
days  of  the  festival." 

Hereupon  a  sharp  pain  in  his  left  hand,  which  was 
hanging  down,  stayed  Huldbrand  in  his  discourse,  and 
he  looked  down  to  see  what  might  be  the  cause. 
Undine  had  bitten  hard  his  finger,  and  seemed  marvel- 
ously  gloomy  and  distempered.  Of  a  sudden,  however, 
she  looked  up  into  his  eyes  with  gentle,  sorrowful  face, 
and  whispered  very  softly,  "  'Tis  thou  who  art  to 
blame  !  "  hiding  her  face  the  while.  The  knight  began 
to  speak  again,  in  no  small  measure  perplexed  and 
thoughtful. 

"  Now,  this  Bertalda  was  a  wayward  and  a  haughty 
damsel.  She  pleased  me  not  so  much  the  second  day 
as  the  first,  and  the  third  day  still  less.  Nathless,  I 
busied  myself  about  her,  for  that  she  seemed  to  hold 
me  in  higher  favour  than  other  knights ;  and  thus  it 
befell  that  once  in  sport  I  besought  her  for  one  of  her 
gloves.  '  Sir  Knight,'  quoth  she,  '  I  will  give  it  to 
thee  when,  all  by  thyself,  thou  hast  searched  the  ill- 
omened  forest  through  and  through,  and  canst  bring 
me  tidings  of  its  marvels.'  I  recked  little  of  her  glove  ; 
but  the  word  of  a  knight  once  given  cannot  be  with- 
drawn, and  a  man  of  honour  needs  no  second  prompting 
to  a  deed  of  valour." 

"  Methought  she  loved  you,"  saith  Undine. 


28  UNDINE 

"Ay,  so  it  seemed,"  returned  Huldbrand. 

"Why,  then,"  laughed  the  maiden,  "right  foolish 
must  she  be  to  drive  from  her  the  man  she  loved — 
and,  moreover,  into  a  wood  of  evil  fame  !  The  forest 
and  its  mysteries  might  have  waited  long  enough  for 
me!" 

Huldbrand  smiled  fondly  at  Undine. 

"  Yester  morning,"  quoth  he,  "  I  set  off  on  my 
enterprise.  The  morning  was  fair,  and  the  red  tints 
of  sunrise  caught  the  tree-stems  and  lay  along  the 
green  turf.  The  leaves  were  whispering  merrily 
together,  and  in  my  heart  I  could  have  laughed  at  the 
silly  folk  who  were  frightened  at  so  beautiful  a  place. 
'  Full  soon  shall  I  have  passed  and  repassed  the  wood,1 
said  I  to  myself  with  confident  gaiety,  and  ere  I  had 
had  time  to  bethink  myself  of  the  matter  I  was  deeply 
plunged  into  the  thick  glades,  and  could  see  no  more 
the  plain  that  lay  behind  me.  Thereupon  it  came  to 
my  mind  for  the  first  time  that  I  might  easily  lose  my 
way  in  the  forest,  and  that  perchance  this  was  the  only 
peril  the  traveller  had  to  face.  So  I  paused  awhile 
and  looked  round  at  the  position  of  the  sun,  which 
meanwhile  had  risen  higher  in  the  heavens.  As  I 
looked  I  saw  something  black  in  the  branches  of  a 
high  oak.  'A  bear,  maybe,'  I  thought,  and  I  felt  for 
my  sword.  But  it  spoke  with  a  human  voice,  all 
harsh  and  ugly,  and  called  to  me  from  above  :  '  Sir 
Malapert,'  it  cried,  'an  I  fail  to  nibble  away  the 
branches  up  here,  what  shall  we  have  to  roast  you 


OF  THAT  WHICH  BEFELL  THE  KNIGHT  29 

with  at  midnight  ?  '  And  so  saying  it  grinned  and 
made  the  branches  shake  and  rustle  in  such  sort  that 
my  horse,  grown  wild  with  terror,  galloped  me  away 
before  I  had  time  to  see  what  kind  of  devil's  beast  it 
might  be." 

"  Thou  must  not  give  him  a  name,"  said  the  fisher- 
man, and  he  crossed  himself.  His  wife  did  the  like 
with  never  a  word. 

But  Undine  looked  at  the  knight  with  sparkling 
eyes.  "The  best  of  the  story  is,"  quoth  she,  "that 
they  have  not  roasted  him !  Go  on,  fair  sir!  " 

So  the  knight  went  on  with  his  tale. 

"  So  wild  was  my  horse  that  it  went  hard  with  me  to 
stay  him  from  charging  the  stems  and  branches  of  trees. 
He  was  dripping  with  sweat,  and  yet  he  would  not  suffer 
himself  to  be  held  in.  At  length  he  galloped  straight 
towards  a  precipice.  Whereupon  it  appeared  to  me  as 
though  a  tall  white  man  threw  himself  across  the 
path.  The  horse,  trembling  with  fear,  stopped,  and 
I  regained  my  hold  on  him.  Then  for  the  first  time 
did  I  become  aware  that  what  saved  me  was  no  man, 
but  a  brook,  bright  as  silver,  rushing  down  from  a 
hill  by  my  side,  and  crossing  and  stemming  my 
horse's  path." 

"  Thanks,  dear  Brook,"  cried  Undine,  clapping  her 
hands.  But  the  old  man  shook  his  head  and  bent 
him  thoughtfully  over  the  ground. 

Huldbrand  continueth  his  tale.  "Scarce,"  quoth 
he,  "had  I  settled  myself  in  the  saddle  and  taken  a 


3o  UNDINE 

firm  grip  on  the  reins,  when,  lo,  a  marvellous  little 
man,  very  small  and  hideous  beyond  measure,  stood 
at  my  side.  Tawny  brown  was  his  skin,  and  his 
nose  almost  as  big  as  his  whole  body,  while,  grinning 
like  a  clown  and  stretching  wide  his  huge  mouth, 
he  kept  bowing  and  scraping  over  and  over  again. 
Since  this  fool's  play  pleased  me  but  ill,  I  gave  him 
brief  good-day,  and  turned  about  my  horse  which 
still  quivered  with  fear.  Methought  I  would  find 
some  other  adventure  or  else  I  would  bestir  myself 
homeward,  for,  during  my  wild  gallop,  the  sun  had 
already  passed  the  meridian.  Whereupon,  quick  as 
lightning,  the  little  fellow  whipped  round  and  again 
stood  before  my  horse.  '  Make  room  there,'  I  cried 
angrily,  '  the  animal  is  fiery  and  may  easily  overrun 
thee.'  '  Oh,  ay,'  snarled  the  imp,  grinning  yet  more 
hideously,  *  give  me  first  some  drink-money,  for  it 
was  I  who  stopped  your  horse ;  without  my  aid  both 
thou  and  he  would  now  be  lying  in  the  stony  ravine, 
Ugh!'  'Make  no  more  faces,'  quoth  I;  '  take  your 
gold,  albeit  that  thou  liest,  for  see,  it  was  the  good 
brook  that  saved  me  and  not  thou,  thou  wretched 
wight ! '  And  therewith  I  dropped  a  piece  of  gold 
into  the  quaint  cap  which  he  held  before  me  in  his 
begging.  And  I  made  as  though  I  would  ride  on. 
But  he  shrieked  aloud,  and  swifter  than  can  be 
imagined  he  was  once  more  at  my  side.  I  urged  my 
horse  to  a  gallop ;  the  imp  ran  too,  and  strange 
enough  were  the  contortions  he  made  with  his  body, 


He  held  up  the  gold  piece,  crying  at  each  leap  of 
his,  "  False  gold !  false  coin  !  false  coin  !  " 


OF  THAT  WHICH  BEFELL  THE  KNIGHT  31 

half  laughable  and  half  horrible,  the  while  he  held  up 
the  gold  piece,  crying  at  each  leap  of  his,  '  False 
gold !  false  coin  !  false  coin  !  false  gold  ! '  And  these 
words  he  uttered  in  such  sort,  with  so  hollow  a 
sound  from  out  his  breast,  that  one  might  well  con- 
ceive that  after  each  shriek  he  would  fall  dead  to  the 
ground. 

"  Moreover  his  hideous  red  tongue  lolled  out  of  his 
mouth.  And  for  my  part,  I  stopped  in  doubt  and 
said,  'What  meaneth  this  screaming?  Take  another 
gold  piece  or  yet  another ;  but  quit  my  side.'  Once 
more  he  began  his  strange  mockery  of  courtesy  and 
snarled  :  '  Not  gold,  not  gold,  young  sir,'  quoth  he, 
1  enough  and  to  spare  of  that  trash  have  I  myself,  as 
forthwith  I  will  show  you.'  Thereupon  of  a  sudden 
it  appeared  to  me  as  if  the  solid  ground  were  as  trans- 
parent as  green  glass,  and  the  smooth  earth  were  a 
round  ball,  wherein  a  multitude  of  goblins  made  sport 
with  silver  and  gold.  Heads  up  and  heads  down  they 
rolled  hither  and  thither,  pelting  one  another  in  jest 
with  the  precious  ore  and  blowing  gold  dust  in  per- 
verse sport  into  one  another's  eyes.  My  horrible  com- 
rade stood  partly  on  the  ground  and  partly  within  it ; 
at  times  he  bade  the  others  reach  him  up  handfuls  of 
gold  :  then  with  harsh  laugh,  having  shown  them  to 
me,  he  would  fling  them  down  clattering  into  the 
bottomless  abyss.  Thereupon  he  minded  to  show 
the  piece  of  gold  I  had  given  him  to  the  goblins 
below  and  they  laughed  themselves  half  dead  over  it 


32  UNDINE 

and  hissed  out  at  me.  At  length  they  all  pointed 
their  stained  fingers  at  me,  and  more  and  more  wildly, 
more  and  more  densely,  and  more  and  more  madly,  the 
whole  swarm  came  clambering  up  to  me.  A  terror 
seized  me  as  erst  it  had  seized  my  horse ;  clapping 
the  spurs  into  him  I  galloped,  for  the  second  time,  I 
know  not  how  far  into  the  forest. 

"  But  when  at  last  I  stayed  my  wild  course  the 
coolness  of  evening  was  around  me.  A  white  foot- 
path— so  it  appeared  to  me — gleamed  through  the 
branches  of  the  trees,  and  that  methought  must  needs 
lead  to  the  city.  Full  eager  was  I  to  work  my  way 
thither  :  but  lo,  a  face,  white,  indistinct,  with  features 
constantly  changing,  was  ever  peering  at  me  between 
the  leaves.  Try  as  I  might  to  avoid  it,  it  accompanied 
me  wherever  I  turned.  And  being  wroth  thereat, 
I  drave  my  horse  against  it,  when  the  phantom  gushed 
forth  volumes  of  water  upon  us  and  forced  us,  willy- 
nilly,  to  retreat.  So  that  at  the  last,  perpetually  divert- 
ing us  step  by  step  from  the  path,  it  left  the  way  open 
only  in  one  direction  :  and  so  long  as  we  obeyed  its 
guidance,  though  it  kept  close  behind,  it  did  us  no 
harm. 

"  From  time  to  time  I  eyed  it  and  meseemed  that 
the  white  face  that  had  besprinkled  us  with  foam 
belonged  to  a  body  equally  white  and  of  gigantic 
stature.  Full  oft  I  fancied  that  it  was  but  a  moving 
stream  :  but  never  did  I  gain  any  certainty  on  this 
matter.  Horse  and  knight  both  wearied  out,  we  yielded 


At  length  they  all  pointed  their  stained 
fingers  at  me 


OF  THAT  WHICH  BEFELL  THE  KNIGHT  33 

to  the  influence  of  the  white  man,  who  kept  nodding 
his  head  as  though  he  would  say  '  Quite  right,  quite 
right ! '  And  so  at  the  last  we  came  out  here  to  the  end 
of  the  forest,  where  I  saw  grass  and  lake  and  your  little 
hut,  and  the  white  man  vanished." 

"  'Tis  well  that  he  hath  gone,"  muttered  the  fisher- 
man ;  and  now  he  began  to  mind  him  how  best  his  guest 
might  return  to  his  friends  in  the  city.  Whereupon 
Undine  laughed  slyly,  and  Huldbrand  perceiving  it 
addressed  her :  "  Undine,"  quoth  he,  "  methought  thou 
wert  glad  to  see  me  here.  Why  then  dost  rejoice 
when  there  is  talk  of  my  departure  ?  " 

"  Because  thou  cannot  go,"  returned  Undine  ;  "  essay 
the  task,  an  thou  wilt  :  cross  that  swollen  stream  with 
boat  or  horse  or  thine  own  legs,  according  to  thy  fancy. 
Nay  but  do  not  try,  for  sure  would  be  thy  fate :  thou 
wouldest  be  crushed  by  the  stones  and  tree-trunks 
swirling  down  its  course  like  lightning.  And  as  for  the 
lake,  full  well  I  know  it ;  Father  dare  not  adventure 
himself  far  enough  out  with  his  boat" 

Thereat  Huldbrand  arose  with  a  smile  that  he  might 
see  whether  Undine  were  right.  The  old  man  bore 
him  company  :  and  the  maiden  danced  merrily  along 
by  their  side.  And  in  sooth  Undine  was  right,  and  the 
knight  found  that  he  must  needs  abide  on  the  tongue 
of  land  that  was  now  an  island,  until  such  time  as  the 
flood  might  subside. 

As  the  three  made  their  way  back  to  the  cottage, 
the  knight  bent  his  head  to  whisper  in  the  maiden's 


34 


UNDINE 


ear:    "How  is  it,"  quoth  he,   "my  pretty  Undine,  art 
angry  that  I  stay  ?  " 

"  Ah,"  saith  she  petulantly,  "  let  me  be.  Had 
I  not  bitten  thy  hand,  who  knoweth  how  much 
more  of  Bertalda  might  not  have  appeared  in  the 
story  ?  " 


CHAPTER  V 

HOW  THE  KNIGHT  FARED  ON  THE 
PENINSULA 

Now  my  story  hath  a  pause.  Perchance,  thou  too, 
who  readest  these  lines,  may,  after  many  a  buffet  in 
this  rude  world,  have  reached  at  length  some  haven 
where  all  was  well  with  thee.  Home  and  the  peace  of 
home,  which  all  must  needs  desire,  appeal  strongly  to 
thy  heart :  and  here  thou  thinkest  is  a  home  where  the 
flowers  of  childhood  may  bloom — ay,  and  that  pure 
deep  love  which  resteth  on  the  graves  of  our  dead 
may  encircle  thee.  Tis  good  thou  sayest  to  be  here, 
and  here  will  I  build  me  an  habitation.  Nay,  an  thou 
mayest  have  erred  and  have  had  afterwards  to  do  bitter 
penance  for  thine  error,  that  mattereth  not  to  thee  now, 
nor  wilt  thou  sadden  thyself  with  unwelcome  memories. 

35 


36  UNDINE 

But  call  up  again  in  thee  thy  sweet  hopes  of  future  joy 
which  no  tongue  may  utter,  bring  back  -again  to  thy 
mind  that  heavenly  sense  of  peace,  and  then,  methinks, 
thou  shalt  know  somewhat  of  how  it  was  with  Huld- 
brand  while  he  lived  on  the  peninsula. 

Full  oft  he  saw,  and  it  pleasured  him  right  well, 
how  every  day  the  forest  stream  rolled  along  more 
wildly  ;  how  it  made  its  bed  ever  wider  and  wider,  and 
so  prolonged  his  stay  on  the  island.  Part  of  the  day 
it  was  his  wont  to  ramble  with  an  old  crossbow  which 
he  had  found  in  a  corner  of  the  cottage  and  had 
repaired ;  and  watching  for  the  waterfowl,  he  shot  all 
he  could  for  the  cottage  kitchen.  When  he  brought 
back  his  booty,  Undine  would  oft  upbraid  him  for  his 
cruelty  in  robbing  the  happy  birds  of  their  life  ;  yea, 
she  would  shed  bitter  tears  at  the  sight.  But,  an  it 
chanced  that  he  brought  nothing  home,  then  she  would 
scold  him  no  less  earnestly,  for  that  now,  through  his 
carelessness  and  want  of  skill,  they  must  needs  be 
content  with  a  fare  of  fish  alone.  Nathless,  her  pretty 
scoldings  pleased  him  right  well ;  the  more  so  as  she 
made  amends  for  her  angry  reproaches  by  the  sweetest 
caresses. 

Now  the  old  people  saw  how  it  was  with  the  young 
pair,  and  they  were  well  content ;  they  looked  upon 
them  as  betrothed  or  as  already  married,  so  that  they 
might  still  live  on  in  this  isolation,  and  be  a  succour 
and  a  help  to  them  in  their  old  age.  Nay,  to  Huld- 
brand  himself  the  loneliness  of  the  place  seemed  to 


HOW  THE  KNIGHT  FARED  37 

suggest  the  thought  that  he  was  already  Undine's 
accepted  suitor.  To  him  it  appeared  as  if  there  were 
no  world  beyond  these  encircling  waters,  and  no  other 
men  with  whom  he  might  mingle  if  he  recrossed  them. 
When  at  times  his  horse  might  chance  to  neigh  to 
remind  him  of  knightly  deeds,  or  the  coat  of  arms  on 
his  saddle  and  horsegear  confront  him  with  a  frown,  or 
his  sword  of  a  sudden  fall  from  its  nail  on  the  wall, 
slipping  from  its  scabbard  as  it  fell :  he  would  stay  his 
uneasiness  by  murmuring  to  himself  "  Undine,  certes, 
is  no  fisherman's  daughter :  she  is  sprung  more  likely 
from  a  princely  house  in  some  foreign  land."  But  one 
matter  irked  him  sore.  It  was  when  the  old  dame 
scolded  Undine  in  his  presence.  Not  that  the  maiden 
cared  a  jot,  she  was  wont  to  laugh  and  took  no  pains 
to  hide  her  mirth.  But  his  own  honour  seemed  con- 
cerned therein,  albeit  that  he  could  not  blame  the 
fisherman's  wife,  for  Undine  ever  deserved  ten  times 
the  reproof  that  she  received.  In  his  heart  he  could 
not  but  feel  that  the  balance  was  in  the  old  woman's 
favour.  And  so  his  life  flowed  on  in  happiness  and 
peace. 

There  came,  however,  a  break  at  last.  It  was  the 
habit  of  the  fisherman  and  the  knight  when  they  sate 
them  down  to  their  midday  meal,  or  in  the  evening 
when  the  wind,  as  it  commonly  did,  roared  without,  to 
share  together  a  flask  of  wine.  But  now  the  store 
that  the  old  man  had  brought  from  time  to  time  in  his 
visits  to  the  city  was  exhausted,  and  the  two  men  were 


38  UNDINE 

quite  out  of  humour  in  consequence.  Undine  laughed 
gaily  at  them  all  day,  but  for  their  part  they  were 
neither  of  them  merry  enough  to  join  in  her  jests  as 
usual.  Towards  evening  she  left  the  cottage  to  avoid, 
as  she  said,  faces  so  long  and  so  dismal.  As  night  fell, 
there  were  again  signs  of  a  storm  and  the  waters  began 
to  rush  and  roar.  Full  of  fear,  the  knight  and  the 
fisherman  sprang  to  the  door  to  bring  home  the 
maiden,  for  they  bethought  them  of  the  anxiety  of 
that  night  when  Huldbrand  first  came  to  the  cottage. 
But  Undine  swiftly  came  up  to  them,  clapping  her 
little  hands  with  joy.  "  What  will  ye  give  me," 
quoth  she,  "  if  I  provide  some  wine  ?  or  rather,  give 
me  nothing,  for  it  will  content  me  well  if  ye  look 
merrier  and  be  of  better  cheer  than  throughout  this 
dismal  day.  Only  come  with  me,  the  stream  has 
thrown  a  cask  ashore.  'Tis  a  winecask  for  certain,  or 
else  let  me  pay  the  penalty  with  a  week's  sleep !  " 
The  men  followed  her  forthwith,  and  sure  enough  in  a 
sheltered  creek  they  found  a  cask  which  they  ardently 
hoped  might  contain  the  generous  liquor  for  which  they 
thirsted. 

With  as  much  haste  as  possible  they  rolled  the  cask 
towards  the  cottage,  for  the  western  sky  was  overcast 
with  heavy  storm-clouds,  and  they  might  see  in  the 
twilight  the  waves  of  the  lake  lifting  their  foamy 
crests  as  if  looking  for  the  rain  which  must  shortly 
come  down.  Undine  helped  the  men  all  she  might, 
and  when  the  storm  threatened  to  burst  on  their 


HOW  THE  KNIGHT  FARED  39 

heads,  she  uttered  a  laughing  reproof  to  the  clouds. 
11  Come,  come,"  saith  she,  "  look  to  it  that  ye  wet  us 
not;  we  are  still  some  way  from  shelter."  The  old 
man  warned  her  that  she  might  suffer  for  such  pre- 
sumption ;  but  she  laughed  softly  to  herself,  and  no  evil 
came  of  it  to  any  one.  Nay  more,  to  their  surprise 
they  reached  the  hearth  with  their  prize  perfectly  dry  ; 
and  not  till  they  had  opened  the  cask  and  found  that  it 
contained  a  most  exquisite  wine,  did  the  rain  burst 
from  the  dark  cloud  and  the  storm  sweep  through 
the  tree-tops  and  over  the  heaving  waves  of  the 
lake. 

Full  soon  a  score  of  bottles  were  filled  from  the 
cask,  promising  a  supply  for  many  days,  and  they 
sate  them  round  the  glowing  fire,  drinking  with  many 
a  merry  jest  and  comfortably  secure  against  the  raging 
storm  without.  Of  a  sudden,  however,  the  fisherman 
became  grave.  "Ah,  great  God,"  saith  he,  "here 
we  be,  rejoicing  over  this  rich  treasure  and,  mayhap, 
he  to  whom  it  once  belonged  hath  lost  his  life  in  the 
waters  that  robbed  him  of  his  possession." 

"  Nay,  that  he  hath  not,"  returned  Undine,  and  she 
filled  the  knight's  cup  to  the  brim  with  a  smile. 

But  Huldbrand  answered,  "  By  my  honour,  old 
father,  an  I  knew  where  to  find  and  rescue  him,  no 
task  of  peril  by  night  would  I  shirk.  This  much, 
however,  I  can  promise.  If  ever  it  be  my  lot  to 
return  to  places  where  my  fellows  live,  I  will  seek  out 
the  owner  of  this  wine  or  his  heirs,  and  pay  for  it  two- 


40  UNDINE 

fold  or  threefold."  The  speech  pleased  the  old  man 
full  well ;  he  nodded  approvingly  and  drained  his  cup 
with  greater  pleasure  and  a  clearer  conscience. 

But  Undine  was  not  so  pleased.  "Do  as  thou 
wilt,"  quoth  she,  "  with  thy  gold  and  thy  repayment, 
but  about  thy  venturing  out  in  search,  thou  spakest 
foolishly.  I  should  weep  full  sore  if  thou  wert  lost  in 
the  attempt ;  and  is  it  not  truth  that  thou  wouldest 
fain  stay  with  me  and  the  good  wine  ?  " 

"  Ay,  in  sooth,"  quoth  Huldbrand,  with  a  smile. 

"  Then,"  saith  Undine,  "  thy  words  were  foolish. 
For  charity,  it  is  said,  beginneth  at  home,  and  in  what 
do  other  people  concern  us  ?  " 

The  old  woman  turned  away  with  a  sigh,  shaking 
her  head,  while  the  fisherman  forgot  for  the  nonce  his 
love  for  the  maiden  and  scolded  her.  "  Thy  speech," 
saith  he,  as  he  finished  his  reproof,  "soundeth  as 
though  Turks  and  heathen  had  brought  thee  up. 
May  Heaven  forgive  both  me  and  thee,  thou  manner- 
less girl !  " 

"Well,"  returned  Undine,  "'tis  what  I  feel  for  all 
that,  let  who  will  have  brought  me  up ;  and  what 
availeth  thy  sermon  ?  " 

"  Be  silent,"  cried  the  fisherman  ;  and  Undine,  who 
in  spite  of  her  petulance,  was  very  timid,  shrank  from 
him.  Trembling  she  nestled  close  to  Huldbrand's 
side,  and  softly  murmured,  "  Art  thou  also  wroth  with 
me,  dear  friend ! "  The  knight  for  answer  pressed 
her  hand  and  stroked  her  hair.  Naught  could  he  say, 


When  the  storm  threatened  to  burst  on  their 
heads,  she  uttered  a  laughing  reproof  to  the  clouds. 
"  Come,  come"  saith  she,  "look  to  it  that  you  wet 
us  not " 


HOW  THE  KNIGHT  FARED  41 

for  it  irked  him  that  the  old  people  should  be  so 
severe  against  Undine.  But  he  kept  his  lips  closed, 
and  thus  they  all  sat  opposite  to  each  other  for  a 
while  in  embarrassed  silence  with  anger  in  their 
hearts. 


CHAPTER   VI 

TELLETH  OF  A  WEDDING 

Now  in  the  midst  of  this  stillness  came  the  sound  ol 
soft  knocking  at  the  door,  and  startled  those  that 
were  within ;  for,  at  times,  but  a  trifling  incident  can 
scare  us,  when  it  happeneth  unexpectedly.  But  in 
this  case  there  was  the  more  reason  for  alarm  in  that 
the  enchanted  forest  lay  so  near,  and  that  the  little 
promontory  appeared  out  of  the  reach  of  all  human 
visitors.  They  looked  at  each  other  with  doubt  in 
their  faces,  and  when  the  knocking  came  again,  and 
this  time  accompanied  with  a  groan,  the  knight  sprang 
to  reach  his  sword.  But  the  old  man  whispered 
softly,  "Sir  Ksilght,"  quoth  he,  "an  it  be  what  I 
fear,  no  weapon  will  be  of  avail."  Meantime  Undine 
approached  the  door  and  called  out  boldly  and  angrily, 
"  Spirits  of  the  earth,  I  warn  ye  !  If  ye  mean  mis- 
chief, Klihleborn  shall  teach  ye  better  !  " 

Words  so  full  of  mystery  only  added  to  the  terror 

4* 


TELLETH  OF  A  WEDDING  43 

of  the  others,  and  they  looked  at  the  maiden  fearfully. 
When  Huldbrand,  however,  was  minded  to  ask  Undine 
what  she  might  mean  by  such  a  speech,  there  came  a 
voice  from  without.  "  I  am  no  spirit  of  the  earth,"  it 
said,  "  but  a  spirit  still  within  its  earthly  frame.  I 
pray  ye  within  the  hut,  if  ye  fear  God  and  will  help 
me,  open  to  me." 

Undine  at  these  words  opened  the  door  and  held 
out  a  lantern  into  the  night,  so  that  they  perceived 
an  aged  priest  standing  there.  He  stepped  back  in 
wonder:  full  startled  was  he  to  see  so  beautiful  a 
maiden  at  the  humble  cottage  entrance,  and  he  might 
well  suppose  in  such  a  case  that  witchcraft  and  magic 
were  at  work.  So  he  began  to  pray,  "  All  good  spirits 
praise  the  Lord  God  !  " 

"No  spirit  am  I,"  saith  Undine,  smiling.  "Do  I 
then  look  so  ugly  ?  Moreover,  thou  mayest  see  that 
holy  words  do  not  frighten  me.  I,  too,  know  of  God, 
and  understand  how  to  praise  him — every  one  in  his 
own  way,  to  be  sure,  for  so  hath  he  created  us.  Come 
in,  reverend  father,  thou  art  come  among  good  people." 

So  the  holy  man  came  in,  bowing  and  looking  around 
him.  Full  venerable  and  mild  was  his  demeanour, 
but  the  water  was  dropping  from  every  fold  of  his 
garment,  and  from  his  long  white  beard  and  his  white 
hair.  The  fisherman  and  knight  took  him  into  another 
chamber,  and  gave  him  clothes  to  wear,  while  they  left 
his  own  wet  attire  for  the  women  to  dry.  The  old 
man  thanked  them  in  humble  and  courteous  sort ;  but 


44  UNDINE 

he  would  on  no  account  take  the  knight's  rich 
mantle  when  it  was  offered  to  him,  choosing  instead 

o 

an  old  grey  overcoat  of  the  fisherman.  Thereupon 
they  returned  to  the  outer  room,  and  the  old  dame  at 
once  gave  up  her  easy  chair  for  the  reverend  father, 
and  would  not  rest  till  he  had  sate  himself  down  in  it. 
"For,"  quoth  she,  "thou  art  old  and  weary,  and  a 
priest  to  boot."  Moreover,  Undine  pushed  under  the 
stranger's  feet  the  little  stool  on  which  she  was  wont 
to  sit  by  Huldbrand's  side,  and  showed  herself  in  all 
ways  gentle  and  kind  towards  the  priest.  Huldbrand 
whispered  some  jest  about  it  in  her  ear,  but  she 
answered  full  seriously,  "  He  is  a  servant  of  Him  who 
hath  made  us  all :  holy  things  must  not  be  mocked." 

Then  the  knight  and  fisherman  refreshed  their  guest 
with  food  and  wine,  and  when  he  had  somewhat 
recovered  himself  he  began  to  tell  his  story.  He  told 
how  the  day  before  he  had  set  out  from  his  monastery, 
which  lay  far  on  the  other  side  of  the  great  lake,  with 
intent  to  journey  to  the  Bishop,  for  that  he  ought  to 
know  how  deep  was  the  distress  into  which  both 
monastery  and  its  dependent  villages  had  fallen  owing 
to  the  present  marvellous  floods.  He  had  gone  far 
out  of  his  way,  for  the  floods  compelled  him,  and  this 
day  towards  evening  he  had  been  forced  to  ask  the 
aid  of  two  stout  boatmen  to  cross  an  arm  of  the  lake, 
where  the  water  had  overflown  its  banks.  "  Hardly, 
however,"  said  he,  "had  our  little  craft  touched  the 
waves  when  the  furious  storm  came  down  upon  us 


TELLETH  OF  A  WEDDING  45 

which  is  now  raging  over  our  heads.  It  seemed  as 
though  the  waters  had  only  waited  our  approach  to 
begin  their  maddest  dance  with  our  boat.  The  oars 
were  torn  out  of  the  hands  of  the  boatmen  and  driven 
by  the  force  of  the  waves  further  and  further  beyond 
our  reach.  Ourselves,  a  helpless  prey  in  the  hands  of 
natural  forces,  drifted  over  the  surging  billows  towards 
your  distant  shore,  which  we  saw  looming  through  the 
mist  and  foam.  Then  our  boat  was  caught  in  a  giddy 
whirlpool,  and  for  myself  I  know  not  whether  I  was 
upset  or  fell  overboard.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  in  a 
vague  agony  of  approaching  death,  I  drifted  on,  till  a 
wave  cast  me  here,  under  the  trees  of  your  island." 

"  Island,"  cried  the  fisherman,  "ay,  'tis  an  island  for 
sure !  But  a  day  or  two  agone,  it  was  a  point  of  land  ; 
but,  now  that  stream  and  lake  have  alike  been  be- 
witched, all  is  changed  with  us." 

"Ay,  so  it  seemed  to  me,"  said  the  priest,  "as  I 
crept  along  the  shore  in  the  dark.  Naught  but  the 
wild  uproar  could  I  hear,  but  at  last  I  saw  a  beaten 
footpath,  which  lost  itself  in  the  waters,  and  then  I 
caught  sight  of  the  light  in  your  cottage  and  ventured 
hither.  Nor  can  I  ever  thank  enough  my  Heavenly 
Father  that  he  hath  saved  me  from  death  and  led  me 
to  such  good  and  pious  people  as  ye  are  ;  the  more 
so,  since  I  know  not,  whether  beside  you  four,  I  shall 
ever  look  upon  human  beings  again." 

"  What  mean  you  by  that  ?  "  asked  the  fisherman. 

"  Know  you  then,"    replied  the    holy  man,   "  how 


46  UNDINE 

long  this  turmoil  of  the  elements  may  last  ?  And  I 
am  old  in  years.  Full  easily  may  the  stream  of  my 
life  run  itself  out  ere  the  overflow  of  the  forest  stream 
may  subside.  And  indeed  it  were  not  impossible  that 
more  and  more  of  the  flood  may  force  itself  between 
you  and  yonder  forest,  until  you  are  cut  off  from  the 
rest  of  the  world  in  such  sort  that  your  fishing-boat 
may  not  suffice  to  carry  you  across.  Then  the  dwellers 
on  the  continent  beyond,  giving  themselves  up  to  their 
own  pleasures  and  cares,  may  entirely  forget  you  in 
your  old  age." 

The  old  wife  started  at  this,  and  crossing  herself, 
said,  "  God  forbid  !  " 

But  the  fisherman  looked  at  her  with  a  smile. 
"  What  strange  creatures  we  are,"  quoth  he.  "  Even 
were  it  so,  things  would  not  be  very  different — at  least 
not  for  thee,  dear  wife — than  they  are  now.  For 
many  years  past  hast  thou  ever  been  further  than 
the  edge  of  the  forest?  And  hast  thou  seen  any 
human  beings  other  than  Undine  and  myself?  The 
knight  and  this  holy  man  are  but  recent  visitors ;  and 
they  will  stay  with  us  even  if  this  become  a  forgotten 
island.  Methinks  thou  wouldest  be  a  gainer  by  it, 
after  all ! " 

"I  know  not,"  said  the  dame,  "it  is  a  gloomy 
thought  to  be  altogether  cut  off  from  other  people, 
even  though  we  neither  see  them  nor  know  them." 

"  Then  thou  wilt  stay  with  us ;  thou  wilt  stay  with 
us  1 "  whispered  Undine,  in  a  low,  chanting  voice,  as 


TELLETH  OF  A  WEDDING  47 

she  nestled  closer  to  Huldbrand's  side.  But  he  was 
lost  in  deep  and  strange  thoughts.  Since  the  priest 
spoke  his  last  words,  the  other  side  of  the  forest 
seemed  to  fade  away  ;  the  island  grew  more  green 
and  smiled  more  freshly  to  his  thought.  The  maiden 
whom  he  loved  shone  as  the  fairest  rose  of  this  little 
spot  of  earth,  and  even  of  the  world — and  lo,  there 
was  a  priest  ready  at  hand  !  Moreover,  at  that  moment, 
the  old  dame  shot  an  angry  glance  at  the  maiden, 
because  even  in  the  presence  of  the  holy  man  she 
leaned  so  closely  on  the  knight ;  and  it  seemed  that  a 
torrent  of  reproach  might  break  forth.  So  Huldbrand 
turned  him  to  the  priest  and  exclaimed :  "  Holy 
Father,"  quoth  he,  "  thou  seest  before  thee  a  pair 
betrothed  to  one  another,  and  if  this  maiden  and  these 
good  people  have  no  word  to  say,  thou  shalt  wed  us 
this  very  evening."  The  old  couple  marvelled  greatly 
at  this  speech.  Somewhat  of  the  kind  had  indeed  ere 
this  entered  their  minds.  But  they  had  never  given 
it  utterance  ;  and  the  knight's  words  came  upon  them 
as  something  wholly  new  and  unexpected.  And 
Undine  had  of  a  sudden  grown  grave,  casting  her 
eyes  down  to  the  ground  in  thought ;  while  the  priest 
inquired  of  the  facts  of  the  case  and  asked  whether 
the  old  people  gave  their  consent  or  no.  And  much 
discourse  took  place  ere  the  matter  was  finally  settled. 
The  old  dame  went  to  prepare  the  bridal  chamber 
for  the  youthful  pair,  and  to  seek  out  two  consecrated 
tapers  which  had  long  been  in  her  possession  and 


48  UNDINE 

which  she  deemed  necessary  for  the  nuptial  ceremony. 
Meantime  the  knight  unfastened  his  gold  chain,  so 
that  he  might  take  off  two  gold  rings  to  make  exchange 
with  his  bride.  Undine,  however,  when  she  saw  what 
he  did,  roused  her  from  her  reverie.  "  Nay,  not  so," 
she  cried,  "  my  parents  have  not  sent  me  into  the 
world  quite  destitute ;  on  the  contrary,  they  must 
surely  have  reckoned  that  such  an  evening  as  this 
would  come."  Thus  saying,  she  quickly  left  the  room 
and  came  back  in  a  moment  with  two  costly  rings,  one 
of  which  she  gave  to  the  bridegroom  and  kept  the 
other  herself.  The  old  fisherman  marvelled  greatly 
thereat,  and  yet  more  his  wife,  for  neither  had  ever 
seen  these  jewels  in  the  child's  possession. 

"See,"  said  Undine,  "my  parents  had  these  baubles 
sewn  into  the  beautiful  gown  I  was  wearing  when 
I  came  to  you.  They  forbade  me  to  speak  of  them  to 
any  one  before  my  wedding,  so  I  unfastened  them 
in  secret  and  kept  them  hidden  till  now."  Thereupon 
the  priest  stayed  all  further  questionings  by  lighting 
the  consecrated  tapers.  He  placed  them  on  a  table 
and  summoned  the  bridal  pair  to  stand  before  him. 
With  a  few  solemn  words  he  gave  them  each  to  the 
other  :  the  elder  pair  blest  the  younger  ;  and  the  bride, 
trembling  and  thoughtful,  leaned  upon  the  knight. 

Then  spake  the  priest  of  a  sudden.  "  Ye  are  strange 
people !  "  quoth  he.  "  Why  did  ye  tell  me  that  ye 
were  alone  on  the  island  ?  During  the  whole  ceremony 
a  tall  stately  figure,  clad  in  a  white  mantle,  has  been 


TELLETH  OF  A  WEDDING 


49 


looking  at  me  through  the  window  opposite.  He  must 
be  still  there  before  the  door  if  ye  will  invite  him  into 
the  house."  "  God  forbid,"  said  the  old  dame  shudder- 
ing :  the  fisherman  shook  his  head  in  silence  and  Huld- 
brand  sprang  to  the  window.  It  seemed  to  him  that 
he  could  still  see  a  white  streak,  but  it  soon  vanished 
altogether  in  the  darkness.  Wherefore  he  assured  the 
priest  that  he  must  have  been  mistaken  ;  and  they  all 
seated  themselves  together  round  the  hearth. 


L> 


CHAPTER  VII 

OF  ALL  THAT  CHANCED  ON  THE  EVENING 
OF  THE  WEDDING 

Now,  both  before  the  marriage  ceremony  commenced, 
and  while  it  was  in  progress,  Undine  had  shown  herself 
as  quiet  and  gentle  as  might  be.  But  now  that  the 
ceremony  was  over,  it  seemed  as  if  all  the  strange 
and  untoward  humours  that  were  in  her  burst  forth 
wholly  without  restraint  or  shame.  Childish  she  was, 
and  childish  were  the  tricks  with  which  she  teased 
both  her  wedded  lord  and  her  foster-parents.  Nay, 
she  even  went  so  far  as  to  spite  and  annoy  the  holy 
man  to  whom  lately  she  had  shown  such  reverent 
obeisance.  When  the  foster-mother  was  all  for  re- 
proving her,  the  knight  stayed  her  with  a  few  grave 
words,  "for,"  saith  he,  "Undine  is  now  my  wife." 
Nathless,  the  knight  was  no  better  pleased  with 
Undine's  waywardness  than  were  the  others.  It  irked 
him  sore  that  she  should  play  the  child ;  but  no  signs 

50 


THE  EVENING  OF  THE  WEDDING       51 

and  no  warning  words  were  of  any  avail.  Yet  it 
seemed  that  at  times  the  bride  took  note  of  her 
husband's  discomfiture,  and  then  at  once  she  became 
more  quiet,  sitting  down  by  his  side,  caressing  him 
with  her  hands,  and  whispering  something  smilingly 
into  his  ear,  so  that  the  wrinkles  on  his  forehead  would 
all  be  smoothed  away.  And  then  again  the  tender 
mood  would  pass,  and  some  wild  freak  of  temper 
would  make  her  yet  more  perverse  and  froward ;  so 
that  matters  would  be  worse  than  they  were  before. 

At  last  the  priest  addressed  her  with  kind  and  serious 
words.  "  Lady,"  quoth  he,  "  no  man  can  look  at 
thee  without  delight,  for  thou  art  fair  and  young  to 
behold,  and  the  eye  of  mortal  man  must  needs  yield 
to  thy  beauty.  And  yet  I  bid  thee  beware  and  take 
heed  to  thy  ways,  so  that  thy  soul  may  be  attuned 
and  brought  into  harmony  with  that  of  thy  wedded 
husband." 

"What  is  this  thou  sayest?"  answered  Undine. 
"  Thou  talkest  of  my  soul.  And,  indeed,  it  may 
well  be  that  for  most  of  the  sons  of  men  thou 
mayest  utter  a  wise  and  seasonable  caution.  But  I 
pray  you,  if  I  have  no  soul  at  all,  what  is  it  that  I  may 
do  ?  In  such  case  the  task  of  harmony  that  thou 
prescribest  seemeth  to  be  difficult." 

Now  the  priest  turned  him  away  and  was  silent 
when  Undine  spake  thus.  But  she  came  over  to  him, 
and  addressed  him  in  more  reverent  sort.  "  Sir 
Priest,"  quoth  she,  "  thou  art  angry  with  me,  and  I 


52  UNDINE 

know  well  the  cause.  Yet  thou  painest  me  with 
thine  angry  look  ;  and  thou  must  not  pain  any  creature 
that  liveth  without  due  cause.  Listen  to  me,  I  pray 
thee,  and  have  patience  with  me ;  and  for  my  part  I 
will  seek  to  tell  thee  plainly  what  I  mean." 

Thereupon  it  was  clear  that  she  had  bent  herself  to 
give  a  full  and  plain  account  of  something  that  had 
hitherto  been  concealed.  But  suddenly  she  hesitated, 
as  though  some  secret  hand  of  restraint  had  been  laid 
upon  her,  and  with  a  quick  shudder  she  burst  into  a 
flood  of  tears.  Not  a  person  there  knew  what  to 
make  of  her  in  this  case.  They  gazed  at  her  in  silence, 
filled  with  dim  and  vague  apprehension.  For  a  moment 
or  two  she  rested  thus,  and  then,  wiping  away  her 
tears,  she  looked  gravely  and  earnestly  at  the  holy 
man,  and  spake  as  follows  : 

"  Meseemeth  that  there  is  something  strange  and 
difficult  to  understand  about  the  soul.  It  hath  a  beauty 
of  its  own,  hath  it  not  ?  And  yet  to  me  it  appeareth 
full  of  dread  and  awe.  I  ask  thee,  Sir  Priest,  might 
we  not  all  of  us  be  in  better  case  if  we  never  shared 
so  beautiful  and  so  perilous  a  gift?"  Once  again 
Undine  was  silent,  as  though  waiting  for  some  reply, 
and  her  tears  had  ceased  to  flow.  All  those  in  the 
cottage  had  started  from  their  seats  at  her  strange 
words,  and  had  stepped  back  from  her  with  something 
akin  to  horror  in  their  eyes.  Nathless,  she  looked 
neither  to  right  nor  to  left,  but  only  bent  her  gaze  on 
the  holy  man,  with  a  yearning  of  curiosity  on  her  face, 


THE  EVENING  OF  THE  WEDDING       53 

as  though  she  waited  for  some  message  of  terrible 
import.  And  once  more  she  spake. 

"It  must  be  a  burden  right  heavy  to  bear,  this  soul 
of  which  thou  speakest,  for  even  the  shadow  of  its 
approach  filleth  me  with  sadness  and  dread.  And  yet, 
God  knoweth,  I  had  pleasure  and  happiness  enough 
in  my  life  till  now."  Thereupon  Undine  burst  into  a 
fresh  flood  of  tears,  and  covered  her  face  with  the 
raiment  that  she  wore.  And  the  priest  went  up  to 
her  with  a  solemn  air,  and  spoke  to  her  weighty 
words,  conjuring  her,  by  the  name  of  the  Most  Holy, 
to  rend  and  cast  aside  the  veil  that  enveloped  her, 
if  so  be  that  any  spirit  of  evil  possessed  her.  She 
meanwhile  sank  on  her  knees  before  him,  saying  after 
him  all  the  sacred  words  he  uttered,  praising  God,  and 
protesting  that  in  her  heart  she  wished  well  to  the 
whole  world.  At  the  last  the  priest  turned  him  towards 
the  knight. 

"  Sir  Bridegroom,"  quoth  he,  "  I  will  leave  thee 
alone  with  her  to  whom  I  have  united  thee  in 
holy  wedlock  So  far  as  my  wisdom  may  lead  me, 
I  find  nothing  of  evil  in  her,  though  much  that  is 
strange  and  mysterious.  I  commend  to  thee  three 
things  wherewith  thou  mayest  bear  thyself  well  in  thy 
future  life — Prudence,  Love,  and  Faithfulness."  With 
these  words  the  priest  left  the  room,  and  the  fisherman 
and  his  wife  followed  him,  crossing  themselves  as  they 
passed  Undine. 

Undine  herself  had  sunk  on  her  knees.     She  took 


54  UNDINE 

the  raiment  from  her  face,  and,  looking  humbly  and 
timidly  on  Huldbrand,  spake  as  follows  :  "  Woe  be  it 
to  me,  for  thou  wilt  surely  refuse  to  keep  me  as  thine 
own  !  And  yet  no  evil  have  I  done,  God  wotteth,  and 
am  naught  but  an  unhappy  child."  And  as  she  said 
these  words  her  face  had  on  it  a  look  so  tender  and 
so  wistful  in  its  humility  and  beauty  that  her  bride- 
groom clean  forgot  all  the  horror  he  had  felt,  and  all 
the  mystery  that  surrounded  her,  and,  hastening  to  her 
side,  he  raised  her  in  his  arms.  She  smiled  through 
her  tears.  It  was  a  smile  like  the  light  of  dawn  playing 
on  a  little  stream. 

"Ah,  thou  canst  not  leave  me,"  she  whispered, 
stroking  the  knight's  cheek  with  her  tender  hand. 

Sir  Huldbrand  did  his  best  to  banish  the  thoughts 
of  fear  and  dread  that  lurked  in  the  background  of 
his  mind,  persuading  him  that  some  fairy  or  some 
malicious  and  mischievous  being  of  the  spirit  world 
had  come  to  be  his  wife.  Only  the  single  question, 
half  unawares,  passed  his  lips  :  "  Undine,  my  little 
Undine,"  quoth  he,  "tell  me  at  least  this  one  thing. 
What  was  all  thy  talk  of  spirits  of  the  earth,  and  of 
Klihleborn,  what  time  the  priest  was  knocking  at  the 
door  ? " 

"Naught  but  fairy-tales,"  answered  Undine  merrily, 
"  children's  fairy-tales.  At  the  first  I  frighted  you 
with  them,  and  then  you  frighted  me.  And  that 
is  the  end  of  our  story,  and  of  our  wedding- 
night." 


THE  EVENING  OF  THE  WEDDING       55 

"  Nay,  God  be  my  witness,"  quoth  the  knight, 
"  certes,  it  is  not  the  end."  Saying  thus,  he  blew 
out  the  tapers,  and  by  the  light  of  the  moon, 
which  shone  softly  in  at  the  window,  he  bore, 
with  a  thousand  eager  kisses,  his  beloved  to  her 
room 


CHAPTER  VIII 
THE  DAY  AFTER  THE  WEDDING 

THE  bright  morning  light  awoke  the  pair :  Undine 
hid  her  face  beneath  the  bed-coverings,  while  Huld- 
brand  lay  for  a  moment  in  silent  thought.  So  oft  as 
he  had  slept  during  the  night,  strange  and  marvellous 
visions  had  disturbed  his  rest :  spectres,  grinning 
mysteriously,  had  striven  to  disguise  themselves  as 
beautiful  women ;  beautiful  women  had  taken  upon 
themselves  the  form  of  dragons  :  and  when  he  started 
up  from  these  hideous  dreams,  the  moon  shone  pale 
and  cold  into  the  room,  and  in  terror  he  looked  at 
Undine  in  whose  arms  he  had  fallen  to  sleep.  But  lo, 

56 


THE  DAY  AFTER  THE  WEDDING        57 

there  she  lay  at  his  side,  unchanged  in  loveliness  and 
grace.  Whereupon  he  would  press  a  light  kiss  on  her 
rosy  lips  and  would  fall  again  to  sleep,  only  to  be 
awakened  by  new  terrors.  Now  that  he  was  fully 
awake,  he  bethought  himself  of  all  this  and  blamed 
himself  full  sore  for  every  doubt  that  had  turned  him 
against  his  sweet  wife.  He  begged  her  to  pardon  his 
unjust  suspicions ;  but  for  her  part  she  only  held  out 
to  him  her  hand  and,  sighing  deeply,  said  not  a  word. 
Nathless  she  looked  at  him  with  a  tender  yearning 
such  as  he  had  never  seen  before,  so  that  he  might  be 
certain  that  she  bore  him  no  manner  of  ill-will.  With 
a  lighter  heart  he  rose  from  bed  and  left  her  to  join  the 
rest  of  the  household  in  the  common  room. 

Now  the  three  were  sitting  round  the  hearth,  with  a 
cloud  on  their  faces,  none  daring  to  express  their  fear 
in  words.  It  seemed  that  the  priest  was  praying  in 
his  inmost  spirit  that  all  evil  might  be  turned  aside. 
But  as  soon  as  they  beheld  the  young  husband  come 
into  the  room  with  such  good  cheer,  they  put  aside 
their  trouble  and  anxiety  ;  and  the  fisherman  bethought 
himself  to  make  merry  jests  with  the  knight,  and  so 
pleasantly  withal  that  the  old  dame  smiled,  well 
pleased  to  hear  them.  Thereupon  Undine  entered 
the  room.  Now  all  rose  to  give  her  greeting  and  yet 
stood  still  a  space,  marvelling  greatly  because  the 
young  wife  seemed  so  strange  to  them  and  yet  the 
same.  The  priest  first,  with  fatherly  love  in  his 
eyes,  went  up  to  her,  and  as  he  raised  his  hand  to 


58  UNDINE 

bless  her,  she  sank  on  her  knees  before  him  and  did 
him  reverence.  With  gentle  and  lowly  words  she 
begged  him  to  forgive  her  for  all  that  was  foolish  and 
petulant  in  her  speech  of  yestereven,  and  implored  him 
with  no  little  emotion  to  pray  for  the  welfare  of  her 
soul.  Then,  rising  from  her  knees,  she  kissed  her 
foster-parents  and  gave  them  thanks  for  the  goodness 
they  had  shown  her. 

"  Ah  !  "  quoth  she,  "  it  moveth  me  to  my  inmost  soul 
to  bethink  me  how  great,  how  immeasurably  great,  have 
been  your  kindnesses  to  me,  my  dear,  dear  parents  !  " 
Nor  could  she  at  the  first  leave  off  her  caresses  ;  but 
when  she  saw  the  old  dame  bestirring  herself  about 
breakfast,  she  went  forthwith  to  the  hearth,  cooked 
and  prepared  the  meal,  and  would  not  suffer  the  good 
mother  to  concern  herself  with  aught. 

So  she  remained  during  the  day — silent,  affectionate, 
attentive — at  once  a  matron,  and  a  tender,  bashful  girl. 
The  three  who  had  known  her  longest,  thought  at 
every  moment  to  see  some  whimsical  and  petulant 
outbreak  of  her  old  wild  mood.  But  they  looked  for 
it  in  vain.  Undine  was  as  mild  and  gentle  as  an  angel. 
The  priest  could  not  take  his  eyes  off  her,  and  turned 
ofttimes  to  the  bridegroom. 

"  Sir  Knight,"  quoth  he,  "  the  goodness  of  God 
hath  through  me,  His  unworthy  servant,  entrusted 
thee  with  a  treasure  ;  cherish  it  therefore,  as  is  thy 
bounden  duty,  so  will  it  be  for  thy  welfare,  both  in 
time  and  in  eternity." 


THE  DAY  AFTER  THE  WEDDING        59 

Now,  as  evening  fell,  Undine,  hanging  on  the 
knight's  arm  with  humble  tenderness,  drew  him  gently 
forth  from  the  door.  Full  pleasant  to  behold  was  the 
gleam  of  the  setting  sun  on  the  fresh  grass  and  the 
slender  stems  of  the  trees.  The  young  wife's  eyes 
were  dewy  with  sadness  and  love,  while  her  lips 
seemed  to  quiver  with  some  secret  mystery,  at  once 
sweet  and  bodeful,  which  might  only  be  revealed  by 
scarcely  audible  sighs.  Onward  and  onward  she  led 
her  husband  and  spake  never  a  word.  Indeed,  when 
he  said  something,  she  answered  not  at  all,  but  turned 
upon  him  a  look  in  which  lay  a  whole  heaven  of  love 
and  timid  devotion.  Thus  they  reached  the  edge  of 
the  forest  stream  and  the  knight  marvelled  much  to 
see  it  rippling  along  in  gentle  waves,  without  a  trace 
of  its  former  wild  overflow.  And  Undine  began  to 
speak  with  regret  in  her  voice. 

"  By  to-morrow,"  saith  she,  "  it  will  be  quite  dry, 
and  then  thou  mayest  travel  whithersoever  thou  wilt, 
without  let  or  hindrance." 

But  the  knight  answered  laughingly.  "  Not  with- 
out thee,  my  little  Undine,"  quoth  he,  "for  bethink 
thee  that  an  I  wished  to  desert  thee,  church  and 
priests,  empire  and  emperor,  would  interpose  and 
bring  thee  back  again  thy  fugitive." 

"  Nay,  but  all  hangs  on  thee,"  whispered  she,  half 
weeping  and  half  smiling,  "  all  hangs  on  thee  !  Nath- 
less,  I  think  that  thou  wilt  hold  by  me,  for  that  I  love 
thee  so  dearly.  Only  carry  me  over  to  that  little 


60  UNDINE 

island  before  us ;  the  matter  shall  be  decided  there. 
Easily  enough  could  I  glide  through  the  ripples  ;  but 
it  is  so  sweet  to  rest  in  thine  arms,  and  if  thou  castest 
me  off,  at  the  least  I  shall  have  rested  in  them  once 
more  for  the  last  time." 

Now,  Huldbrand,  full  as  he  was  of  wonder  and  fear 
at  her  words,  knew  not  in  what  sort  to  make  reply. 
But  he  took  her  in  his  arms,  carrying  her  across,  and 
thereupon  bethought  him  that  this  was  the  same  little 
island  whence  he  had  borne  her  back  to  the  fisherman 
on  the  first  night  of  his  arrival.  On  the  further  side, 
he  put  her  down  on  the  soft  grass,  and  was  minded 
to  throw  himself  fondly  at  her  side.  But  she  stayed 
him  with  a  word.  "Nay,"  quoth  she,  "sit  there, 
opposite  to  me,  I  will  read  my  sentence  in  thine  eyes 
before  thy  lips  speak.  Now  listen  attentively,  I  pray 
thee,  to  what  I  shall  say." 

And  she  spake  as  followeth  : 

"Thou  must  know,  my  beloved,  that  there  exist  in 
the  elements  beings  not  unlike  mortal  men,  which  yet 
rarely  let  themselves  be  seen  of  men.  Wonderful 
salamanders  glisten  and  sport  in  the  flames  of  fire ; 
gnomes,  lean  and  spiteful,  dwell  deep  within  the  earth  ; 
spirits,  which  are  of  the  air,  wander  through  the 
forests  ;  and  a  vast  family  of  water-spirits  live  in  the 
lakes  and  streams  and  brooks.  In  domes  of  crystal, 
echoing  with  many  sounds,  through  which  heaven 
looks  in  with  its  sun  and  its  stars,  the  water-spirits 
find  their  beautiful  home ;  lofty  trees  of  coral  with 


THE  DAY  AFTER  THE  WEDDING       61 

blue  and  crimson  fruits  shine  in  their  gardens  ;  they 
wander  over  the  pure  sand  of  the  sea,  and  among 
lovely  variegated  shells  and  amid  all  the  exquisite 
treasure  of  the  old  world,  which  the  present  world  is 
no  longer  worthy  to  enjoy.  All  these  the  floods  have 
covered  with  their  mysterious  veil  of  silver  ;  below 
sparkle,  stately  and  solemn,  many  noble  ruins,  washed 
by  the  loving  waters  which  win  from  them  delicate 
moss- flowers  and  entwining  clusters  of  sea-grass. 
Those  who  dwell  there  are  very  fair  and  lovely  to 
behold — more  beautiful,  I  ween,  than  human  beings. 
Here  and  there  a  fisherman  has  been  lucky  enough  to 
espy  some  mermaid  as  she  rose  from  the  waters  and 
sang ;  thereupon  he  would  tell,  near  and  far,  of  her 
beauty,  and  such  wondrous  beings  have  been  called 
Undines.  Thou,  dear  one,  art  actually  seeing  an 
Undine." 

Now  the  knight  tried  hard  to  persuade  himself  that 
the  spell  of  one  of  her  strange  humours  was  upon 
his  wife,  and  that  it  pleased  her  to  tease  him  with 
some  extravagant  fancy  of  her  own.  But  albeit  that 
he  said  this  to  himseif  over  and  over  again,  he  per- 
suaded himself  none  the  better ;  he  shook  with  a 
strange  unnatural  shudder,  and  having  no  power  to 
utter  a  word,  stared  at  his  companion  with  unmoving 
eyes.  For  her  part,  Undine  moved  her  head  to  and 
fro  sadly,  and  with  a  deep  sigh  went  on  as  followeth  : 

"  We  should  live  far  more  happily  than  other  human 
beings — for  human  beings  we  call  ourselves,  being 


62  UNDINE 

similar  in  face  and  stature — were  it  not  for  one  evil 
that  is  peculiar  to  us.  We,  and  our  like  in  the  other 
elements,  vanish  into  dust  and  pass  away,  body  and 
spirit,  so  that  not  a  vestige  of  us  remains  behind  ;  and 
when  ye  human  beings  awake  hereafter  to  a  purer  life, 
we  abide  with  the  sand  and  the  sparks  of  fire,  the  wind 
and  the  waves.  For  we  have  no  souls.  The  element 
in  which  we  live  animates  us ;  it  even  obeys  us  while 
we  live  ;  but  it  scatters  us  to  dust  when  we  die.  And 
we  are  merry,  having  naught  to  grieve  us — merry  as 
are  the  nightingales  and  little  gold-fishes,  and  other 
pretty  children  of  nature.  Nathless,  all  beings  aspire 
to  be  higher  than  they  are  ;  and  so  my  Father,  who  is 
a  mighty  water-prince  in  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  was 
fain  that  his  only  daughter  should  become  possessed  of 
a  soul,  even  though  she  must  needs  in  that  case  endure 
the  sufferings  of  those  similarly  endowed.  Beings  such 
as  we  can  only  gain  a  soul  by  an  union  of  deepest  love 
with  one  of  thy  race.  A  soul  I  now  possess  ;  and  my 
soul  thanks  thee,  oh  my  beloved,  and  will  ever  thank 
thee,  if  thou  on  thy  part  makest  not  my  whole  life 
wretched.  For  what,  thinkest  thou,  will  become  of 
me  if  thou  avoidest  me  and  drivest  me  from  thee  ? 
Still,  Heaven  forbid  that  I  should  hold  thee  to  me  by 
deceit.  And  if  thou  wilt  reject  me,  do  it  forthwith  and 
go  back  to  the  shore  alone.  I  will  plunge  into  this 
brook,  which  is  my  uncle,  for  here  in  the  forest,  alien- 
ated from  other  friends,  he  leads  his  strange  and 
solitary  life.  Powerful,  indeed,  he  is,  and  receiveth 


THE  DAY  AFTER  THE  WEDDING       63 

tribute  from  many  great  streams ;  and,  as  he  bore  me 
to  the  fisherman  a  light-hearted  and  laughing  child,  so 
will  he  take  me  back  again  to  my  parents,  a  loving, 
suffering  woman,  gifted  with  a  soul." 

Now  she  was  minded  to  say  more,  but  Huldbrand, 
taking  her  into  his  arms  with  the  tenderest  love,  bore 
her  back  again  to  the  shore.  Not  till  he  had  gained 
it,  did  he  swear,  with  full  many  tears  and  kisses,  never 
to  forsake  his  sweet  wife  ;  and  he  deemed  himself 
happier  far  than  the  heathen  sculptor,  Pygmalion,  whose 
beautiful  statue  Venus  endowed  with  life,  so  that  it 
became  his  love.  And  Undine,  clinging  to  his  arm 
with  sweet  trustfulness,  walked  to  the  cottage,  feeling 
now  for  the  first  time  with  all  her  heart  how  little  need 
there  was  for  her  to  regret  the  forsaken  crystal  palaces 
of  her  mysterious  father. 


CHAPTER  IX 

HOW  THE  KNIGHT  BORE  AWAY  HIS 
YOUNG  WIFE 

Now  the  story  here  telleth  how  next  morning  Huld- 
brand,  waking  from  his  sleep,  found  not  his  wife  by 
his  side  ;  and  how  forthwith  the  strange  thoughts 
returned  to  his  mind  that  his  marriage,  ay,  and  sweet 
Undine  herself,  were  but  delusions  and  sorceries.  But 
as  he  mused  thus,  lo,  Undine  came  into  the  room  and 
sate  her  down  beside  him. 

"Dear  love,"  saith  she,  "  I  have  been  out  betimes 
to  see  if  my  uncle  keeps  his  word.  And  he  hath 
already  led  all  the  waters  back  again  into  his  own  quiet 
channel,  and  behold  he  floweth  once  more  through  the 

64 


THE  KNIGHT  BEARS  AWAY  HIS  WIFE     65 

forest,  lonely  and  dreaming,  as  is  his  wont.  His  friends 
in  air  and  water  have  also  gone  to  rest ;  all  is  again 
peaceful  and  orderly  around  us,  and  thou  mayest  travel 
homewards,  when  thou  wilt,  dryshod." 

Now  to  Huldbrand  it  seemed  that  he  was  in  some 
waking  dream,  and  little  enough  could  he  understand 
the  strange  kindred  of  his  wife.  Nathless,  he  made 
no  comment  on  the  matter,  and  the  exquisite  grace  of 
Undine  soon  lulled  to  rest  every  uneasy  misgiving. 
When,  after  some  space  of  time,  he  stood  with  her 
before  the  door,  and  looked  over  the  green  peninsula 
with  its  boundary  of  clear  waters,  he  felt  so  happy  in 
this  cradle  of  his  love  that  he  could  not  forbear  to 
say: — 

"  Why  must  we  needs  travel  to-day  ?  Rarely  enough 
shall  we  find  happier  days  in  the  world  yonder  than 
those  we  have  spent  in  this  quiet  shelter.  Nay,  but 
let  us  see  the  sun  go  down  here,  twice  or  thrice 
more ! " 

"  As  my  lord  willeth,"  said  Undine,  humbly.  "  It 
is  only  that  the  old  people  will  in  any  case  part  from 
me  with  pain,  and  when  they  now  for  the  first  time 
discern  the  true  soul  within  me,  and  know  how  heartily 
I  can  love  and  honour  them,  methinks  their  aged 
eyes  will  be  dimmed  with  many  tears.  At  present 
they  still  hold  my  quietness  and  gentleness  for  nothing 
better  than  what  they  were  once — the  calm  of  the  lake 
when  the  air  is  still  ;  and,  as  matters  now  are,  they 
will  full  soon  learn  to  cherish  a  flower  or  a  tree  as  they 

E 


66  UNDINE 

have  cherished  me.  Let  me  not,  therefore,  I  beg  thee, 
reveal  to  them  this  soul  of  mine,  so  loving  and  so 
newly-won,  just  at  the  moment  when  they  must  lose  it 
for  this  world ;  and  how  can  I  conceal  it  if  we  remain 
longer  together  ?  " 

Huldbrand  perceived  that  she  was  right,  and  forth- 
with spoke  to  the  old  people  of  the  journey  which  he  pro- 
posed to  undertake  that  very  hour.  The  priest  offered 
to  bear  company  with  the  young  pair,  and  so,  after  taking 
a  hasty  farewell,  he  and  the  knight  helped  the  bride  to 
mount  the  horse  and  both  walked  with  rapid  steps  by 
her  side  across  the  dry  channel  of  the  forest  stream  into 
the  wood  beyond.  Silently  and  bitterly  did  Undine 
weep,  while,  as  for  the  old  people,  they  cried  aloud. 
It  seemed  that  all  that  they  were  losing  in  their  foster- 
child  was  now  borne  in  upon  their  minds. 

Now  the  three  travellers  had  reached  in  silence  the 
densest  shades  of  the  forest.  Right  fair  was  it  to  see 
how,  under  the  green  canopy  of  leaves,  the  beautiful 
Undine  sat  on  the  richly-caparisoned  steed,  while  on 
one  side  walked  the  venerable  priest  in  the  white  garb 
of  his  order,  and  on  the  other  strode  the  knight  in  gay 
and  splendid  attire,  girt  with  his  sword.  Huldbrand 
had  no  eyes  save  for  his  wife.  Undine,  who  had  dried 
her  tears,  had  no  eyes  save  for  him.  Full  soon  there 
was  naught  between  them  but  a  mute  converse  of 
glance  and  gesture,  from  which  they  were  roused  at 
length  by  the  low  talk  of  the  priest  with  a  fourth 
traveller,  who,  meantime,  had  joined  them  unobserved 


67 

He  was  clad  in  a  white  garment,  almost  like  the 
habit  of  the  monk,  only  that  the  hood  hung  low  over 
his  face  ;  and  his  raiment  with  its  vast  folds  floated 
round  him  in  such  sort  that  ever  and  anon  he  must  needs 
gather  it  up  and  throw  it  over  his  arm  or  dispose  of  it 
in  some  fashion,  albeit  that  in  no  way  did  it  let  or  hinder 
his  movements.  When  the  young  couple  first  be- 
came aware  of  his  presence,  he  was  speaking  as 
followeth  : 

"  Sir  Priest,"  quoth  he,  "  for  many  years  have  I  dwelt 
thus  in  the  forest  and  yet  no  hermit  am  I,  in  the  proper 
sense  of  the  word.  For,  as  I  have  said,  of  penance  I 
know  naught,  nor  do  I  think  myself  to  have  any  special 
need  of  it.  I  love  the  forest  in  that  it  hath  a  beauty 
peculiar  to  itself;  and  it  pleaseth  me  well  to  pass  in  my 
white  flowing  garments  midmost  the  leaves  and  dusky 
shadows,  while  here  and  there  a  sweet  sunbeam  cometh 
upon  me  unawares." 

"  Thou  art  a  strange  man,"  saith  the  priest,  "  and 
full  willingly  would  I  know  thee  better." 

"  And  to  pass  from  one  thing  to  another,"  returned 
the  stranger,  "  what  sort  of  man  art  thou  ?  " 

"  Father  Heilmann  am  I  called,"  quoth  the  priest, 
"  and  I  come  from  the  monastery  of  Our  Lady  beyond 
the  lake." 

"  Indeed,"  was  the  reply,  "  my  name  is  Kuhleborn, 
and,  so  far  forth  as  courtesy  requireth,  I  might  claim 
the  title  of  Lord  Kuhleborn  or  Free-lord  Kuhleborn ; 
for  free  am  I  as  the  birds  of  the  forest,  perchance 


68  UNDINE 

somewhat  freer.     For  example,  I  have  a  word  to  say 
to  the  lady  there." 

And,  ere  they  saw  what  he  would  be  at,  he  was  on 
the  other  side  of  the  priest,  hard  by  Undine.  He 
raised  himself  up  to  whisper  something  in  her  ear,  but 
she  turned  away  with  alarm,  and  cried  out  "  Nothing 
more  have  I  to  do  with  thee !  " 

"  Ho,  ho,"  laughed  the  stranger,  "  hast  made  so 
grand  a  marriage  that  no  longer  thou  recognisest  thy 
relations  ?  Hast  forgotten  thy  uncle  Kiihleborn,  who 
so  faithfully  bore  thee  on  his  back  to  this  region  ?  " 

"  Nathless  I  beg  of  thee,"  quoth  Undine,  "  not  to 
appear  to  me  again.  I  fear  thee  now.  What  if  my 
husband  were  to  learn  to  avoid  me,  when  he  seeth  me 
in  such  strange  company  and  with  such  relations ! " 

"  Little  niece,"  saith  Kiihleborn,  "  forget  not  that 
I  am  here  with  thee  as  a  guide — else  might  the  mali- 
cious goblins  of  the  earth  play  some  stupid  pranks  with 
thee.  Let  me  therefore  go  on  quickly  at  thy  side. 
The  old  priest  had  better  memory  for  me  than  thou 
hast,  for  he  told  me  that  I  seemed  familiar  to  him  and 
that  perchance  I  was  with  him  in  the  boat,  out  of 
which  he  fell  into  the  water.  In  sooth  was  I,  for  I  was 
the  waterspout  that  threw  him  out  of  it  and  washed  him 
safely  ashore  for  thy  bridals." 

Undine  and  the  knight  turned  then  to  Father  Heil- 
mann,  but  he  seemed  walking  as  it  were  in  a  dream, 
and  perceived  naught  of  what  was  passing.  There- 
upon said  Undine  to  Kiihleborn,  "  Lo  !  there  I  see 


"  Little  niece"  said  Kiihleborn,  "forget  not  that 
I  am  here  with  thee  as  a  g^l^de  " 


• 

ft  \ 


THE  KNIGHT  BEARS  AWAY  HIS  WIFE     69 

the  end  of  the  forest.  No  need  have  we  of  thy  help, 
and  'tis  only  thou  who  scarest  us.  I  beg  thee,  there- 
fore, in  all  love  and  goodwill,  vanish  and  leave  us  in 
peace." 

But  Kiihleborn  was  angered  thereat,  his  face  grew 
hideous,  and  right  fiercely  did  he  gnash  his  teeth  at 
Undine,  who  screamed  aloud  and  called  on  her  hus- 
band for  help.  Quick  as  lightning  the  knight  sprang 
to  the  other  side  of  the  horse  and  aimed  a  stout  blow 
with  his  sword  at  Kuhleborn's  head.  But  the  blade 
struck  against  a  waterfall,  which  was  rushing  down 
near  them  from  a  lofty  crag,  and  with  a  splash,  which 
sounded  almost  like  a  burst  of  laughter,  it  poured 
over  them  and  drenched  them  to  the  skin.  Whereat 
the  priest  of  a  sudden  woke  from  his  dream  :  "  Long 
since,"  quoth  he,  "have  I  been  expecting  something  of 
the  sort,  for  the  stream  ran  down  from  the  heights 
so  close  to  us.  At  the  first,  methought  it  was  really 
a  man  and  could  speak  with  human  voice." 

Now,  as  the  waterfall  rushed  down,  it  distinctly 
spoke  to  Huldbrand's  ear  in  words  like  these : 

Rash  knight, 

Brave  knight, 

I  am  not  wroth, 

Nor  will  I  chide. 
But  ever  guard,  whate'er  betide. 
Thy  wife  as  closely  at  thy  side : 

Brave  knight, 

Rash  knight ! 


;o 


UNDINE 


A  few  steps  more  and  they  were  upon  open  ground. 
Bright  shone  the  imperial  city  before  them,  and 
the  evening  sun,  which  gilded  its  towers,  dried 
with  its  kindly  beams  the  drenched  garments  of  the 
travellers. 


CHAPTER  X 

HOW  THEY  FARED  IN  THE  CITY 

FOR  a  time  the  story  must  go  back  somewhat  and  tell  all 
that  had  chanced  in  the  imperial  city  while  Huldbrand 
was  away  in  the  forest.  The  sudden  disappearance  of 
the  master  of  Ringstetten  had  indeed  caused  great 
marvel  and  solicitude  amongst  those  who  liked  him  well 
enough  for  his  skill  at  the  tourney  and  dance,  and  still 
more  for  his  gentle  manners  and  bearing.  His  ser- 
vants were  not  minded  to  leave  the  place  without  their 
lord,  albeit  that  not  one  of  them  might  dare  to  seek  him 
in  the  shades  of  the  dreaded  forest.  Idle  therefore 
they  remained,  idly  hoping,  as  men  will  do  in  such  case, 
and  reminding  themselves  of  their  lost  master  by  their 
outspoken  sorrow.  Now  when  full  soon  they  were 
ware  of  the  storms  and  floods  in  all  their  violence,  they 
the  less  doubted  that  Huldbrand  was  now  irretriev- 

71 


72  UNDINE 

ably  lost ;  and  Bertalda  mourned  for  him  openly, 
blaming  herself  in  no  small  measure  for  that  she  had 
tempted  the  ill-starred  knight  to  his  fatal  ride.  Her 
foster-parents,  the  duke  and  the  duchess,  had  come  to 
fetch  her  away  ;  but  Bertalda  begged  them  to  remain 
with  her  until  sure  news  should  arrive  of  Huldbrand's 
life  or  death.  Several  young  knights,  who  courted  her 
full  eagerly,  she  sought  to  persuade  to  follow  the  gallant 
adventurer  into  the  forest.  But  no  pledge  would  she 
give  of  her  hand  as  reward  for  the  enterprise.  She 
ever  hoped  that  Huldbrand  might  return  and  claim 
her ;  while,  as  for  her  suitors,  not  one  of  them  cared 
to  risk  his  life  to  fetch  back  so  dangerous  a  rival  for 
the  sake  of  glove  or  ribbon  or  even  kiss. 

And  now,  look  you,  Huldbrand  suddenly  appeared! 
Great  was  the  joy  of  his  servants  and  the  citizens. 
Almost  every  one  was  glad  at  his  return,  save  only 
Bertalda.  It  might  indeed  please  the  others  that 
Huldbrand  should  bring  with  him  so  beautiful  a  bride, 
together  with  Father  Heilmann  as  witness  of  the 
marriage  ;  but  Bertalda  could  feel  naught  but  grief 
and  vexation.  For,  in  the  first  place,  she  had  really 
loved  the  knight  with  all  her  heart,  and,  in  the  second 
place,  her  sorrow  at  his  absence  had  proclaimed  her 
love  in  the  public  eye  far  more  than  was  now  becoming. 
Nathless,  in  such  circumstances,  she  demeaned  herself 
as  a  wise  maiden,  and  bore  herself  in  most  friendly 
sort  towards  Undine — whom,  indeed,  all  men  thought  to 
be  a  princess,  rescued  by  Huldbrand  in  the  forest  from 


HOW  THEY  FARED  IN  THE  CITY       73 

some  evil  enchantment.  If  questioned  on  such  a  matter, 
both  husband  and  wife  were  wise  enough  to  hold  their 
peace,  or  dexterously  evaded  the  inquiry.  And  Father 
Heilmann's  lips  were  sealed  to  idle  gossip  of  any  kind  ; 
moreover,  immediately  after  Huldbrand's  arrival,  he 
had  taken  his  way  back  to  his  monastery.  Hence  it 
came  that  every  one  must  needs  be  content  with  his 
own  conjectures,  and  even  Bertalda  knew  no  more  of 
the  truth  than  the  rest. 

Now,  day  by  day,  Undine  felt  her  affection  grow 
for  the  fair  maiden.  "  Certes,  we  must  have  known 
one  another  before,"  she  was  wont  to  say,  "  or  else 
there  must  be  some  strange  tie  between  us,  for  with- 
out some  cause — some  deep  and  secret  cause — one 
loveth  not  another  so  dearly  as  I  have  loved  you  from 
the  first  moment  of  our  meeting." 

Nor  could  Bertalda  herself  deny  but  that  she  was 
drawn  to  Undine  in  sympathy  and  love,  for  all  that 
she  might  hold  herself  aggrieved  at  so  successful  a 
rival.  And  so  strong  was  this  mutual  affection  that 
they  both  persuaded — the  one  her  foster-parents,  the 
other  her  husband — to  postpone  the  day  of  departure 
from  time  to  time  :  indeed,  there  was  some  talk  that 
Bertalda  should  bear  Undine  company  to  the  castle  of 
Ringstetten,  near  the  sources  of  the  Danube. 

Of  this  plan  they  spoke  to  one  another  one  evening, 
as  they  walked  by  starlight  in  the  public  square  of  the 
imperial  city,  under  the  tall  trees  that  encircle  it. 
The  young  husband  and  wife  had  begged  Bertalda  to 


74  UNDINE 

join  them  in  their  evening  walk,  and  the  three  paced 
to  and  fro  under  the  dark  blue  sky,  now  and  again  in- 
terrupting their  talk  to  admire  the  magnificent  fountain 
in  the  middle  of  the  square,  as  its  waters  rushed  and 
bubbled   forth    in   strange    beauty.     Full   happy  and 
peaceful  was  the  scene  ;   glimmering  lights  from  the 
neighbouring    houses    stole   in    upon    them    through 
the  branches  of  the  trees  ;  a  low  murmur  of  children 
at  play  and  folk  who   took   pleasure  in  their   walk, 
sounded   in  their  ears  ;  alone   they  seemed  and   yet 
not  alone,  in  the  midst  of  a  bright,  living  world  ;  the 
difficulties  of  the  day  smoothed  themselves  away  ;  and 
the  three  friends  could  no  longer  understand  what  hind- 
rance or  objection  there  might  be  to  Bertalda's  visit 
to  Ringstetten.     Whereupon,  as  they  were  about  to 
fix  the  day  for  their  departure  together,  lo,  a  tall  man, 
coming  to  them  from  the  middle  of  the  square,  bowed 
with  deep  respect  to  the  company,  and  said  some  words 
in  the  ear  of  the  young  wife.     It  irked  her  that  she 
should  be  thus  interrupted  and  by  a  stranger,  but  she 
went  some  steps  aside  with  him  and  both  began  to 
whisper  together,  as  it  seemed,  in  a  foreign  tongue. 

Now  Huldbrand  thought  that  he  recognised  the 
man,  and  stared  so  fixedly  at  him  that  he  neithei 
heard  nor  answered  Bertalda's  astonished  questions. 
Of  a  sudden,  Undine  clapped  her  hands  joyously 
and,  laughing,  left  the  stranger,  while  he,  shaking 
his  head,  went  away  hastily  as  though  ill-pleased, 
and  vanished  in  the  fountain.  Then  Huldbrand  was 


HOW  THEY  FARED  IN  THE  CITY       75 

certain    that   he  was  right ;    but  Bertalda   addressed 
herself  to  Undine. 

"  Tell  me,"  quoth  she,  "what  had  the  master  of  the 
fountain  to  say  to  thee  ?  " 

And  Undine  laughed  to  herself  as  she  made  reply. 
"The  day  after  to-morrow,  dear  one,  on  thy  birthday, 
shalt  thou  know  all."  No  more  would  she  say ;  but 
she  asked  Bertalda  and,  through  her,  her  foster  parents 
to  dine  with  her  husband  and  herself  on  the  appointed 
day,  and  soon  after  they  parted. 

"  Kiihleborn,  was  it  Kiihleborn  ?  "  said  Huldbrand, 
with  a  secret  shudder,  when  they  had  taken  leave  of 
Bertalda,  and  were  pacing  homewards  through  the 
darkening  streets. 

"Ay,  'twas  he,"  quoth  Undine.  "And  he  was 
minded  to  say  many  foolish  things  to  me.  But  in  the 
midst,  and  quite  against  his  will,  he  gave  me  a  most 
welcome  piece  of  news.  An  thou  wouldst  wish  to  hear 
it  forthwith,  dear  lord  and  husband,  thou  hast  but  to 
command,  and  I  will  tell  it  to  thee  with  all  my  heart. 
But  if  thou  wilt  give  a  real  pleasure  to  thy  Undine, 
wait  till  the  day  after  to-morrow  and  then  thou  too, 
wilt  have  a  share  in  the  surprise." 

Full  readily  did  the  knight  grant  to  her  the  boon 
that  she  had  so  sweetly  asked  ;  and  as  she  fell  asleep, 
she  murmured  to  herself  with  a  smile.  "  Dear,  dear 
Bertalda!  "  quoth  she.  "  How  glad  she  will  be,  and 
how  great  wiil  be  her  wonder  at  wh-at  the  master  of 
the  fountain  revealed  to  me  ! " 


CHAPTER  XI 

BERTALDA'S  BIRTHDAY 

HERE  beginneth  the  story  of  the  feast  of  Bertalda's 
name-day,  how  it  fared  for  those  who  took  part  in  it 
and  in  what  sort  it  ended. 

Now  the  company  were  sitting  at  dinner,  and 
Bertalda,  who  shone  like  some  goddess  of  spring  with 
her  flowers  and  her  jewels  given  her  by  her  foster- 
parents  and  friends,  was  placed  between  Undine  and 
Huldbrand.  When  the  rich  repast  was  ended,  and 
the  last  course  had  been  served,  the  doors  remained 
open,  as  the  good  old  German  custom  hath  it,  so  that 
the  common  people  might  look  on  and  bear  a  part  in 
the  festivity  of  the  nobles.  Servants  were  bearing 
cake  and  wine  among  the  spectators.  Huldbrand  and 
Bertalda,  for  their  part,  waiting  with  scarce-concealed 
impatience  till  the  secret  might  be  divulged,  kept 
their  eyes  fixed  on  Undine.  Silent,  however,  she 
still  remained ;  only  that  now  and  again  she  smiled  to 
herself  in  her  hidden  joy.  Those  who  knew  of  the 

76 


Bertalda 


BERTALDA'S  BIRTHDAY  77 

promise  she  had  made,  might  espy  well  enough  that 
she  was  ever  on  the  point  of  making  the  revelation, 
and  that  it  was  only  by  a  sort  of  gay  self-denial  that 
she  repressed  her  longing,  as  children  are  wont  to  do 
when  they  defer  to  the  last  their  choicest  dainties. 
Bertalda  and  Huldbrand  shared  this  delightful  feeling, 
looking  forward  with  impatient  hope  to  Undine's 
message.  Just  at  that  moment  some  of  the  guests 
pressed  Undine  to  sing.  The  time  was  opportune, 
and  when  her  lute  had  been  brought  to  her,  she  sang 
as  followeth : 

Fair  was  the  morn  and  gay  the  flowers, 

The  grasses  sweet  and  tall : 
But  there  on  the  verge  of  the  glassy  lake 

Was  a  pearl  outshining  all. 

What  glitters  there  amid  the  grass  ? 

A  blossom  white  as  snow  ? 
Or  is  it  a  gem  of  Heavenly  light 

Fallen  to  earth  below  ? 

'Tis  an  infant  child,  so  frail  and  dear, 

And  while  it  dreams  it  plays 
With  rosy  buds  and  happy  flowers, 

And  grasps  the  morning  rays. 

Ah,  whence,  poor  stranger,  art  thou  here 

From  far  and  unknown  strand  ? 
The  waves  of  the  lake  have  borne  thee  on 

To  an  unfamiliar  land. 

Nay  put  not  forth,  O  little  child, 

Thy  tiny  hands  outspread  : 
No  answering  hand  will  meet  thine  own 

Voiceless  that  flowery  bed. 


78  UNDINE 

The  flowers  may  deck  themselves  full  sweet. 

And  sweetly  scent  the  air ; 
But  none  can  press  thee  to  its  heart 

With  the  love  of  a  mother's  care. 

So  early  at  the  gate  of  life 

Has  dawned  an  orphan's  lot ; 
The  highest  blessing  thou  hast  missed 

And  yet  thou  know'st  it  not. 

A  noble  duke  comes  riding  by, 

And  stops,  beholding  thee  : 
He  takes  thee  to  his  castle-halls, 

A  maid  of  high  degree. 

Great  is  the  boon  and  great  thy  gain, 

Thou'rt  fairest  in  the  land : 
Yet,  ah,  the  purest  joy  of  all 

Is  lost — on  an  unknown  strand  ! 

With  a  sad  smile  Undine  let  fall  her  lute,  and  the 
eyes  of  Bertalda's  foster-parents  filled  full  of  tears. 

"  Ay,  ay,"  quoth  the  duke,  "  'twas  so  indeed  that  I 
found  thee,  my  poor  orphan,"  and  he  seemed  deeply 
moved ;  "  the  fair  singer  says  truly.  The  purest  joy  of 
all  we  have  had  no  power  to  give  thee ! " 

"  But  now  listen,"  said  Undine,  "  for  we  must  hear 
how  it  fared  with  the  poor  parents."  Thereat  she 
struck  the  strings  and  sang  as  followeth  : 

The  mother  wanders  through  the  house  : 

Wherever  she  might  come, 
She  seeks  with  tears  she  knows  not  what, 

And  finds  an  empty  home. 


BERTALDA'S  BIRTHDAY  79 

An  empty  home !  oh,  word  of  woe 

To  one  that  had  been  blest : 
Who  held  her  child  throughout  the  day 

And  cradled  it  to  rest ! 

The  beech  is  growing  green  again, 

The  sun  shines  on  the  shore ; 
But,  mother,  fruitless  is  thy  search, 

Thy  babe  comes  back  no  more  ! 

And  when  the  breath  of  eve  blows  cool 

And  father  home  returns, 
He  tries  to  smile  as  he  smiled  of  yore, — 

But  a  tear  his  eyelid  burns. 

For  him  his  hearth  is  desolate 

And  he  finds  but  blank  despair; 
For  he  hears  the  wail  of  that  mother  pale 

And  no  child  to  greet  him  there  ! 

"  Ah,  in  Heaven's  name,"  cried  Bertalda  through  her 
tears,  "tell  me,  Undine,  I  pray  thee,  where  are  my 
parents  ?  For  surely  thou  must  know ;  surely  thou  must 
have  discovered;  for  else  thou  wouldst  not  so  have 
torn  my  heart !  Perchance  they  are  here  ?  Can  it  be 
so  ? "  Her  eyes  glanced  quickly  over  the  brilliant 
company  and  rested  on  a  lady  of  high  rank  who  was 
seated  hard  by  her  foster-father. 

But  Undine  turned  her  towards  the  door  and  her 
eyes  shone  with  tender  light.  "  Where,  then,"  quoth 
she,  "  are  the  poor  parents  who  have  waited  so  long  ?  " 
Whereupon,  look  you,  'twas  the  old  fisherman  and 
eke  his  wife,  who  stepped  hesitatingly  forth  from  the 
crowd  of  spectators !  They  looked,  and  there  was 


8o  UNDINE 

much  question  in  their  looks — first  at  Undine  and  then 
on  the  beautiful  maiden  said  to  be  their  daughter. 

"Ay,  'tis  she,"  murmured  Undine,  "'tis  she,  indeed!" 
And  the  two  old  people  flung  their  arms  round  the 
neck  of  their  long-lost  child,  weeping  sore  and  praising 
God. 

But  little  pleasure,  I  wis,  did  Bertalda  gain  there- 
from .  Angry  and  astonished,  she  tore  herself  from  their 
embrace.  A  discovery  such  as  this  was  more  than  her 
proud  spirit  could  bear  at  a  moment  when  she  had 
fondly  dreamed  that  still  greater  fortune  was  to  be  her 
lot — nay  that  she  might  come  even  to  royal  honours. 
Her  rival,  it  seemed  to  her,  had  devised  this  plan  so 
that  she  might  be  all  the  more  signally  humiliated 
before  Huldbrand  and  the  whole  world.  Undine  she 
covered  with  reproaches ;  the  old  people  she  reviled  ; 
and  bitter,  hateful  words,  such  as  "liar,"  "deceiver," 
"  bribed  impostors,"  fell  from  her  lips.  Thereupon  the 
old  fisherman's  wife  said  to  herself  in  a  low  voice  : 
"  Ah  me,  she  is  become,  I  ween,  a  wicked  girl,  and  yet 
I  feel  in  my  heart  that  she  was  born  of  me."  As  for 
the  fisherman,  he  folded  his  hands  and  prayed  silently 
that  it  might  not  be  his  daughter.  Undine,  pale  as 
death,  turned  from  the  parents  to  Bertalda  and  from 
Bertalda  to  the  parents.  From  the  heaven  of  happiness 
of  which  she  had  dreamed  she  was  of  a  sudden  cast 
out,  and  such  anguish  and  terror  as  she  had  never 
known  even  in  dreams  overwhelmed  her  thoughts. 

"Hast  thou  a  soul  ?  "  cried  she,  "  hast  thou  indeed 


BERTALDA'S  BIRTHDAY  81 

a  soul,  Bertalda  ?  "  She  uttered  these  words  over  and 
over  again  as  though  to  rouse  her,  despite  her  wrath, 
from  some  sudden  madness  or  distracting  nightmare. 
But  when  Bertalda  only  grew  the  hotter  in  her  anger, 
while  the  parents  whom  she  had  rejected  began  to  utter 
loud  lamentation,  and  the  guests,  in  eager  dispute,  took 
this  side  or  that  in  the  controversy,  Undine  asked  with 
such  dignity  and  seriousness  to  be  allowed  to  speak  in 
this,  her  husband's  hall,  that  all  were  forthwith  silenced. 
Then  she  moved  to  the  upper  end  of  the  table,  where 
Bertalda  had  sate  her  down  ;  and,  while  every  eye  was 
fixed  upon  her,  she  spoke  with  modesty  and  pride  the 
words  that  follow  : 

"  My  friends,"  quoth  she,  "  I  see  that  ye  are  troubled 
and  angry,  and  truly,  God  wot,  ye  have  marred  my 
happy  feast  with  your  bickerings.  But  in  sooth  I  know 
naught  of  your  foolish  ways  and  your  harsh  thoughts ; 
nor  indeed  am  I  fain  through  all  my  life  to  become 
acquainted  with  them.  No  fault  is  it  of  mine  that  the 
matter  hath  turned  out  so  ill  ;  but,  believe  me  an  ye 
will,  the  fault  may  very  well  be  with  you,  little  as  it  so 
appears.  Wherefore  I  have  little  to  say  ;  but  one 
thing  I  must  say.  I  have  spoken  naught  but  the  truth. 
I  cannot,  nor  I  will  not,  give  ye  proof  beyond  these 
words  of  mine,  but  I  declare  it  to  be  so.  He  told  me 
of  it,  who  lured  Bertalda  from  her  parents  into  the 
water,  and  who  afterwards  placed  her  on  the  green 
meadow  in  the  duke's  path." 

"She   is   a   sorceress!"   cried  Bertalda,   "a  witch 


82  UNDINE 

who  holdeth  intercourse  with  evil  spirits !  Why,  she 
confesseth  it  herself!  " 

"Nay,  not  so,"  quoth  Undine,  and  a  heaven  of 
innocence  and  truth  was  in  her  eyes.  "  I  am  no 
witch  :  only  look  at  me." 

"  False  is  she,"  saith  Bertalda,  "false  and  boastful. 
Nor  can  she  prove  that  I  am  the  child  of  these  base- 
born  people.  My  noble  parents,  I  ask  ye  to  take  me 
from  this  company,  and  from  this  city,  where  they  are 
only  minded  to  bring  me  to  shame."  Nathless,  the 
duke's  sense  of  honour  forbade  him  to  move,  while 
his  wife  was  as  firm  as  he. 

"We  must  be  careful,"  said  she,  "how  we  act. 
God  forbid  that  we  should  take  a  step  from  this  hall 
without  due  thought." 

Thereupon  the  fisherman's  wife  drew  near,  and 
curtseying  low  to  the  duchess,  she  said  these  words : 
"  Thou  hast  opened  my  heart,  noble  lady,  for  thou 
fearest  God.  If  this  wicked  child  be  in  sooth  my 
daughter,  I  must  tell  thee  that  she  hath  a  mark,  like 
a  violet,  between  her  shoulders,  and  another  like  it  on 
the  instep  of  her  left  foot.  If  she  will  but  come  with 
me  out  of  the  hall " 

"  I  shall  not  bare  myself  before  a  peasant  woman," 
cried  Bertalda,  turning  proudly  away. 

"  But  before  me  thou  wilt,"  said  the  duchess,  very 
gravely.  "  Follow  me  into  yonder  room,  and  the 
good  old  woman  shall  come  with  us." 

So  the  three  disappeared,  and  the  others  remained 


"She  hath  a  mark,  like  a  violet,  between  her 
shoulders,  and  another  like  it  on  the  instep  of 
her  left  foot" 


*8 


BERTALDA'S  BIRTHDAY  83 

where  they  were,  waiting  in  silence.  After  a  time 
they  came  back.  Bertalda  was  deadly  pale. 

"  Right  is  right,"  said  the  duchess  ;  "  needs  must  I 
therefore  declare  that  our  hostess  hath  spoken  naught 
but  the  exact  truth.  Bertalda  is  the  fisherman's 
daughter,  and  that  is  all  that  it  is  necessary  to  say." 

Duke  and  duchess  went  out  with  their  adopted 
daughter  ;  at  a  sign  from  the  duke,  the  fisherman  and 
his  wife  followed.  The  other  guests  departed  in  silence, 
or  with  secret  murmurs ;  and  Undine  sank  weeping 
into  Huldbrand's  arms. 


CHAPTER   XII 

HOW  THEY  JOURNEYED  FROM  THE  CITY 

Now  the  lord  of  Ringstetten  might  well  have  been 
better  pleased  had  the  events  of  the  day  turned  out 
otherwise ;  yet  even  so,  it  must  needs  content  him 
that  his  wife  should  have  been  shown  to  be  so  good 
and  sweet  and  kindly.  "  If  a  soul  I  have  given  her," 
he  would  say  to  himself,  "  'tis  indeed  a  better  one 
than  mine  own."  And  forthwith  his  only  thought  was 
to  speak  comfortingly  to  the  weeping  Undine,  and  on 
the  following  morning  to  leave  a  city,  which  after  such 
events,  must  have  become  distasteful  to  her.  No  one 

84 


HOW  THEY  JOURNEYED  FROM  THE  CITY  85 

judged  her  with  disfavour,  it  is  true.  From  the  first, 
something  of  strangeness  and  mystery  was  looked  for 
in  her,  and  the  discovery  of  Bertalda's  birth  caused 
no  great  wonderment ;  moreover,  every  one  who  had 
heard  the  story  and  seen  how  distempered  was 
Bertalda's  behaviour,  felt  disgust  at  her  alone.  Of 
this,  however,  the  knight  and  his  lady  knew  nothing 
as  yet.  Praise  or  blame  was  alike  painful  to  Undine, 
and  there  was  therefore  naught  better  to  be  done  than 
leave  the  old  walls  of  the  city  behind  them  with  all 
possible  speed. 

At  early  dawn,  a  well-appointed  carriage  drove  up 
to  the  entrance  gate  for  Undine.  Huldbrand's  horses 
and  those  of  his  attendant  squires  were  pawing  the 
ground  in  the  court.  The  knight  was  leading  his  wife 
from  the  door,  when  a  fisher-girl  crossed  their  way. 

"We  need  not  thy  merchandise,"  said  Huldbrand, 
"we  are  just  leaving  the  city."  Whereupon,  as  the 
fisher-girl  began  to  weep  bitterly,  the  husband  and 
wife  recognised  that  she  was  Bertalda.  They  went 
back  with  her  at  once  to  their  apartments  and  learnt 
that  the  duke  and  duchess,  bitterly  displeased  at  her 
violence  and  ill-behaviour  yesterday,  had  withdrawn 
their  protection  from  her,  albeit  that  they  had  given 
her  a  rich  dowry.  The  fisherman,  also,  had  been 
handsomely  rewarded,  and  with  his  wife  had  already 
set  out  for  their  lonely  home. 

•"  I  would  fain  have  gone  with  them,"  she  went  on, 
"  but  the  old  man  who  is  said  to  be  my  father " 


86  UNDINE 

"  He  is  truly  thy  father,"  Undine  broke  in.  "  Listen. 
The  stranger  who  appeared  to  thee  to  be  the  master 
of  the  fountain  told  me  the  whole  story,  word  for  word. 
He  wished  to  dissuade  me  from  taking  thee  to  Castle 
Ringstetten,  and  so  the  secret  came  out." 

"  Well,  then, "  said  Bertalda, "  my  father,  if  so  it  must  be 
—my  father  refused  to  take  me  with  him  until  such  time 
as  I  might  be  changed  in  nature  and  dress.  '  Adventure 
thyself  alone  through  the  haunted  forest, 'quoth  he ;  'that 
shall  be  the  proof  whether  thou  hast  any  regard  for  us 
or  no.  But  come  not  as  a  lady  ;  come  as  a  fisher-girl.' 
Now  I  would  do  as  he  said,  for  I  am  forsaken  by  the 
whole  world,  and  I  will  live  and  die  alone  with  my 
poor  parents  as  a  poor  fisher-girl.  But  I  dread  the 
forest.  Hideous  spectres  dwell  there  and  make  me 
afraid.  But  there  is  no  help  for  it.  I  came  here  but 
to  implore  pardon  of  the  noble  lady  of  Ringstetten  for 
that  I  demeaned  myself  so  unworthily  yesterday.  I 
know  well,  gentle  lady,  that  you  meant  to  do  me  a 
kindness  ;  but  you  knew  not  how  you  would  wound 
me,  and  in  my  distress  and  surprise,  full  many  a  rash 
and  frantic  word  escaped  my  lips.  Ah,  forgive  me, 
forgive  me,  I  am  so  unhappy !  Bethink  thyself  what 
I  was  yesterday  morning — yesterday  when  your  feast 
began — and  what  I  am  now  !  " 

Her  voice  was  choked  with  a  burst  of  passionate 
tears,  and  Undine,  who  also  wept  full  sore,  fell  on  her 
neck.  It  was  long  before  she  could  utter  a  word ;  at 
length  she  said  : 


HOW  THEY  JOURNEYED  FROM  THE  CITY  87 

"Truly  thou  canst  go  with  us  to  Ringstetten," 
quoth  she.  "  Everything  shall  be  as  before  arranged. 
Only,  I  beg  thee,  do  not  call  me  'noble  lady.' 
Look  you,  we  were  exchanged  as  children — that  made 
our  destinies  akin  ;  and  we  will  now  so  closely  link 
our  destinies  together  that  no  power  of  man  shall  be 
able  to  sever  them.  Only,  first  of  all,  come  to  Ring- 
stetten ;  there  can  we  discuss  how  to  share  everything 
as  sisters."  Bertalda  raised  her  eyes  timidly  to  Huld- 
brand.  As  for  him,  he  pitied  the  beautiful  girl  in  her 
distress,  gave  her  his  hand  and  begged  her  in  all  kind- 
ness to  trust  herself  to  him  and  his  wife. 

"We  will  send  a  message  to  your  parents,"  quoth 
he,  "  to  tell  them  why  you  have  not  come  "  ;  and  he 
would  have  added  further  words  about  the  good  old 
couple,  had  he  not  seen  that  Bertalda  shrank  from 
the  mention  of  their  name.  He  therefore  said  no 
more. 

Thereupon  he  helped  her  into  the  carriage  ;  Undine 
followed;  while  he,  mounting  his  horse  and  trotting 
gaily  by  their  side,  urged  the  coachman  to  drive  with 
all  convenient  speed.  Full  soon  they  were  beyond 
the  confines  of  the  imperial  city  and  all  its  painful 
recollections,  and  the  ladies  could  now  begin  to  enjoy 
the  beautiful  country  through  which  their  road  lay. 

After  a  few  days  journey  they  came  one  exquisite 
evening  to  Castle  Ringstetten.  The  knight  had 
much  business  to  transact  with  his  steward  and  with 
his  other  retainers,  so  that  Undine  and  Bertalda 


88  UNDINE 

were  left  alone.  Both  went  out  on  the  ramparts  of 
the  fortress  and  were  delighted  with  the  fair  landscape 
that  spread  far  and  wide  before  them  through  fertile 
Swabia.  At  that  moment  a  tall  man  approached 
them,  greeting  them  courteously,  and  it  seemed  to 
Berthalda  that  he  bore  a  likeness  to  the  master  of 
the  fountain  in  the  city.  Still  stronger  grew  the 
resemblance,  as  Undine,  indignantly  and  with 
threatening  gesture,  bade  him  begone,  and  he  departed 
with  hasty  steps,  shaking  his  head  as  before,  and 
vanishing  at  last  in  a  thicket  close  by.  But  Undine 
reassured  her  friend. 

"  Do  not  be  afraid,  dear  Bertalda,"  she  said,  "this 
time  that  hateful  master  of  the  fountain  shall  do  no 
harm."  And  then  she  told  the  whole  story  in  detail — 
who  she  was  herself,  and  how  Bertalda  had  been 
taken  away  from  the  fisherman  and  his  wife,  and 
Undine  brought  to  them  instead.  At  first  the  girl  was 
frightened,  for  she  thought  her  friend  to  be  seized  with 
sudden  madness.  But  soon  she  felt  more  and  more 
convinced  that  all  was  true,  because  Undine's  story 
held  together  so  well,  and  suited  so  aptly  past  events. 
Moreover,  truth  is  truth,  and  brings  its  own  testimony. 
It  seemed,  indeed,  strange  to  Bertalda  that  she 
should  be  living,  as  it  were,  in  the  midst  of  one  of 
those  fairy  tales,  to  which  formerly  she  had  but  lent 
an  ear. 

Full  reverently  did  she  gaze  upon  Undine,  but 
always  with  a  sense  of  dread  that  came  between  her 


HOW  THEY  JOURNEYED  FROM  THE  CITY  89 

and  her  friend.  At  their  evening  meal  she  could  not 
help  but  marvel  that  the  knight  could  bear  himself 
with  such  tenderness  and  love  towards  a  being  who 
now,  after  all  she  had  discovered,  appeared  to  be  a 
phantom  rather  than  a  human  being. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

HOW  THEY  FARED  AT  CASTLE  RINGSTETTEN 

Now  the  story  is  silent  concerning  some  events,  and 
only  mentioned!  others  cursorily  ;  while  it  passeth  over  a 
considerable  space  of  time.  And  for  this  he  who  reads 
the  tale  must  pardon  him  that  wrote  it,  the  reason 
being  that  the  writer  is  himself  moved  by  the  sadness 
of  it,  and  would  fain  have  others  touched  likewise. 
He  could,  an  he  willed  it,  portray — for  perchance  he 
hath  the  skill — how,  step  by  step,  Huldbrand's  heart 
began  to  turn  from  Undine  to  Bertalda  ;  how  Bertalda 
more  and  more  answered  devotion  by  devotion  ;  how 
both  looked  upon  the  wife  as  a  mysterious  being  to 
fear  rather  than  to  pity ;  how  Undine  wept,  and  how 
her  tears  stirred  the  knight's  remorse  without  awakening 

90 


AT  CASTLE  RINGSTETTEN  91 

his  old  love — in  such  sort  that,  though  at  times  he 
was  kind  and  affectionate,  a  cold  shudder  would  soon 
drive  him  from  her  and  make  him  turn  to  his  fellow 
mortal,  Bertalda.  All  this,  the  writer  knoweth  full 
well,  might  be  drawn  out  at  length  ;  mayhap,  it  ought 
so  to  be ;  but  it  grieveth  him  overmuch,  for  he  hath 
known  such  things  by  sad  experience,  and  he  dreadeth 
even  the  shadow  of  their  remembrance.  And  thou,  too, 
who  readest  these  pages,  art  like  to  have  had  a 
similar  knowledge,  for  such  is  the  lot  of  man.  Happy 
art  thou  if  thou  hast  felt  the  pain,  rather  than  caused  it ; 
for  in  such  things  'tis  more  blessed  to  receive  than  to 
give.  If  so  it  be,  such  a  memory  will  give  thee  sorrow, 
and  a  tear,  perchance,  may  fall  on  the  faded  flowers 
which  once  thou  wert  wont  to  prize.  But  enough  of 
this.  We  will  not  pierce  our  hearts  with  a  thousand 
separate  stings,  but  be  content  to  know  that  matters 
were  so  as  I  have  stated  them. 

Now  poor  Undine  was  sad,  and  the  others  in  no 
better  case.  Bertalda  in  especial  thought  she  detected 
an  injured  wife's  jealousy  whenever  her  wishes  were 
thwarted.  For  this  reason  it  was  her  wont  to  bear 
herself  imperiously,  and  Undine  gave  way  sorrowfully  ; 
\vhile  as  for  Huldbrand,  his  blindness  was  such  that 
he  encouraged  Bertalda  in  her  arrogance.  Moreover, 
the  peace  of  the  castle  was  still  further  disturbed  by 
many  apparitions,  strange  and  marvellous,  which  met 
Huldbrand  and  Bertalda  in  the  vaulted  galleries,  and 
these  had  never  been  heard  of  before  in  the  memory 


92  UNDINE 

of  man.  The  tall  white  man,  whom  the  knight  knew 
only  too  well  as  Uncle  Kiihleborn,  and  Bertalda  as 
the  spectral  master  of  the  fountain,  often  passed  before 
them  with  threats  in  his  eye.  It  was  Bertalda  whom 
he  especially  menaced — so  much  so  that  many  times 
she  had  been  sick  with  terror,  and  often  bethought  her 
of  leaving  the  castle.  But  Huldbrand  was  all  too 
dear  ;  and  she  trusted  to  her  innocence,  sith  no  words 
of  love  had  passed  between  them.  Besides,  she  knew 
not  whither  to  go. 

Now  you  must  know  that  the  old  fisherman,  when 
he  received  the  message  from  the  lord  of  Ringstetten 
that  Bertalda  was  his  guest,  had  written  a  few  words 
in  an  almost  illegible  hand — such  words  as  in  his  old 
age,  and  his  want  of  experience,  it  would  be  natural 
for  him  to  write. 

"  I  am  now,"  he  wrote,  "a  widower  :  my  dear  and 
faithful  wife  is  dead.  Nathiess,  though  I  be  lonely  in 
my  cottage,  I  would  rather  that  Bertalda  were  with 
thee  than  with  me.  Only  let  her  do  no  harm  to  my 
beloved  Undine — on  pain  of  my  curse." 

The  last  words  Bertalda  flung  to  the  winds;  but  she 
paid  especial  attention  to  the  part  concerning  her 
absence  from  her  father.  We  are  all  wont  to  do  the 
like  in  similar  circumstances. 

It  happened  one  day,  when  Huldbrand  had  just 
ridden  forth,  that  Undine  called  together  the  servants 
of  the  household.  She  bade  them  bring  a  large  stone 
and  carefully  cover  with  it  the  magnificent  fountain, 


AT  CASTLE  RINGSTETTEN  93 

which  was  in  the  midst  of  the  castle  court.  The 
servants  urged  that  this  would  oblige  them  to  fetch 
water  from  far  down  in  the  valley.  Undine  smiled 
sadly. 

"  Full  sorry  am  I,  friends,"  quoth  she,  "  to  increase 
your  labour.  I  would  rather  carry  the  pitchers  with 
my  own  hands.  But  this  fountain  must  be  closed. 
Believe  me,  there  is  no  other  way  of  escaping  a  much 
greater  evil." 

Well  pleased,  I  ween,  were  the  whole  household 
to  do  anything  for  their  gentle  mistress.  They  asked 
no  more  questions,  but  took  up  the  enormous  stone. 
Already  they  had  raised  it  in  their  hands,  and  were 
poising  it  over  the  fountain,  when,  lo,  Bertalda  came 
up  running,  and  ordered  them  to  stop.  It  was  from 
this  fountain  that  the  water  came  which  was  so  good 
for  her  complexion,  and,  for  her  part,  said  she  :  "  I 
will  never  allow  it  to  be  closed."  Undine,  however, 
despite  her  usual  gentleness,  was  firmer  than  her  wont 
She  told  Bertalda  that  it  was  her  business,  as  mistress 
of  the  house,  to  make  such  arrangements  as  she 
thought  best,  and  that  in  this  she  was  accountable 
only  to  her  lord  and  husband. 

"Nay,  but  look,"  cried  Bertalda,  angry  and  dis- 
pleased, "  look  how  the  poor  water  curls  and  writhes ! 
It  cannot  bear  to  be  shut  out  from  the  bright  sunshine 
and  the  cheerful  look  of  human  faces  which  it  loveth 
to  mirror !  " 

And,  in  sooth,  the  water  bubbled  and  hissed  full 


94  UNDINE 

strangely ;  it  was  as  though  there  were  something 
within  which  strove  to  release  itself;  but  Undine  only 
the  more  earnestly  insisted  that  her  orders  should  be 
carried  out.  There  was  no  need  to  urge  ;  the  servants 
were  as  glad  to  obey  their  gentle  mistress  as  they  were 
to  thwart  Bertalda's  self-will ;  and  despite  all  her  rude 
and  angry  threats,  the  stone  was  soon  firmly  fixed 
over  the  opening  of  the  fountain.  Thereupon  Undine 
bent  thoughtfully  over  it,  and  wrote  something  on  its 
surface.  It  would  seem  that  she  held  a  sharp  and 
cutting  instrument  in  her  hand,  for  when  she  had  gone 
and  the  servants  came  near  to  examine  the  stone,  they 
saw  various  strange  characters  upon  it  which  none 
had  seen  before. 

Now,  when  the  knight  returned  home  in  the  even- 
ing, Bertalda  received  him  with  tears  and  complaints 
of  Undine's  conduct.  Huldbrand  looked  hard  and 
cold  at  his  wife,  and  she  cast  down  her  eyes  in  dis- 
tress. Yet  she  made  answer  calmly  enough. 

"My  lord  and  husband,"  said  she,  "doth  not  re- 
prove even  a  bond  slave  without  hearing ;  how  much 
less  his  wedded  wife  ?  " 

"  Speak,"  said  the  knight,  with  a  stern  face,  "what 
moved  thee  to  act  so  strangely  ?  " 

"  I  fain  would  tell  thee  when  we  are  alone,"  sighed 
Undine. 

"  Thou  mayest  tell  me  just  as  well  in  Bertalda's 
presence,"  he  returned. 

"Ay,"  quoth   Undine,   "  if  such  be  thy  command. 


AT  CASTLE  RINGSTETTEN  95 

But  command  it  not,  I  beseech  thee."  She  looked  so 
humble,  so  sweet,  so  obedient,  that  a  gleam  from  better 
times  shone  in  the  knight's  heart.  He  took  her  with 
some  show  of  tenderness  by  the  hand  and  led  her 
within  to  an  inner  room,  where  she  began  to  speak  as 
followeth  : 

"  My  beloved  lord,"  saith  she,  "  knoweth  somewhat 
of  my  evil  uncle,  Kiihleborn,  and  it  hath  displeased 
him  more  than  once  to  meet  him  in  the  galleries  of 
the  castle.  Several  times  hath  Kiihleborn  frightened 
Bertalda  and  made  her  ill.  This  is  because  he  is  devoid 
of  soul ;  he  is  an  elemental  force,  a  mere  mirror  of 
external  things,  without  ability  to  reflect  the  world 
within.  Now  at  times  he  seeth  that  thou  art  displeased 
with  me  ;  that  I,  in  my  childlike  way,  am  crying ;  and 
that  Bertalda  is  perhaps  at  the  same  moment  laughing. 
Hence  he  imagineth  various  unlikely  jars  and  troubles 
in  our  home  life,  and  in  many  ways  mixeth  himself 
unbidden  with  our  circle.  What  avails  it  that  I  reprove 
him,  that  I  send  him  angrily  away?  He  doth  not 
believe  a  word  I  say.  His  undeveloped  nature  can  give 
him  no  idea  how  sweetly  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  love 
resemble  one  another,  how  closely  and  inseparably 
they  are  united.  Why,  tears  beget  smiles,  and  from 
their  hidden  source  smiles  conjure  up  tears !  " 

She  looked  up  at  Huldbrand,  smiling  and  weeping, 
and  once  more  he  felt  within  him  all  the  enchantment 
of  his  old  love.  She  was  aware  of  this  and  pressed 
him  closer  to  her,  as  she  went  on  more  happily  : 


96  UNDINE 

"  As  the  disturber  of  our  peace  was  not  to  be  dis- 
missed with  words,  I  have  had  to  shut  the  door  upon 
him,  and  the  only  door  by  which  he  can  enter  is  that 
fountain.  He  is  at  variance  with  all  the  water-spirits 
of  the  adjacent  valleys,  and  his  dominion  only  beginneth 
again  far  down  the  Danube,  to  which  some  of  his  good 
friends  are  tributaries.  'Twas  for  this  reason  that  I 
had  the  stone  placed  over  the  opening  of  the  fountain, 
and  I  inscribed  characters  on  it  which  cripple  all  my 
jealous  uncle's  power  in  such  sort  that  he  can  come 
neither  in  thy  way,  nor  mine,  nor  Bertalda's.  Now  it 
is  true  that  ordinary  men  can  raise  the  stone  again 
with  but  common  effort,  for  all  that  it  is  marked  with 
strange  characters.  They  are  not  let  or  hindered  by 
the  inscription.  If  it  be  thy  will,  therefore,  comply 
with  Bertalda's  desire  ;  but  in  truth  she  knoweth  not 
what  she  asketh.  On  her,  above  all,  the  rude  Kiihleborn 
hath  set  his  mark  ;  and  if  that  came  to  pass  which  he 
hath  predicted  to  me,  and  which  might  well  enough 
happen  without  any  evil  intention  on  thy  part — 
thou  thyself,  beloved  one,  wouldst  not  be  safe  fronr 
peril!" 

Huldbrand  felt  deeply  how  generous  had  been  his 
wife  in  her  eagerness  to  shut  up  her  formidable 
champion,  albeit  that  she  had  been  upbraided  therefor 
by  Bertalda.  Folding  her  most  tenderly  in  his  arms  he 
said  with  obvious  sincerity,  "  The  stone  shall  remain, 
and  all  shall  remain,  as  thou  wilt  have  it,  now  and  ever, 
my  sweet  Undine."  Timidly  and  fondly  she  kissed 


AT  CASTLE  RINGSTETTEN  97 

him  in  this  re-awakening  of  a  love  so  long  withheld ;  and 
at  the  last  she  said : 

"  Dearest  husband,"  quoth  she,  "  so  gentle  and  kind 
art  thou  to-day  that  I  would  fain  ask  a  favour  of  thee. 
See  now,  it  is  the  same  with  thee  as  it  is  with  summer. 
In  the  height  of  its  glory,  summer  puts  on  its  flaming 
and  thundering  crown  of  storms,  so  as  to  prove  that  it 
is  a  king  over  the  earth.  And  thou,  too,  sometimes, 
art  angry,  and  thine  eyes  flash  and  thy  voice  stormeth  ; 
and  these  things  become  thee  well,  though  they  make 
me  in  my  folly  weep.  But  never,  I  pray  thee,  behave 
thus  on  the  water  or  even  near  it,  for  in  that  case  my 
kinsfolk  would  regain  power  over  me.  They  would 
tear  me  irrevocably  from  thy  arms,  deeming  that  one 
of  their  race  was  injured ;  and  then  I  must  needs 
dwell  all  my  life  below  in  the  crystal  palaces,  never 
daring  to  come  up  to  thee  again  ;  or  else  they  would 
send  me  up  to  thee,  and  that,  O  Heaven,  would  be 
infinitely  worse !  No,  no,  beloved  one,  let  it  not  come 
to  this,  if  poor  Undine  be  dear  to  thee !  " 

Full  solemnly  he  gave  the  promise  to  do  as  she 
desired,  and  both  left  the  room,  full  of  love  and  glad- 
ness. As  they  came  forth,  lo,  Bertalda  appeared  with 
some  workmen  to  whom  she  had  already  given  orders, 
and  in  the  sullen  tone  she  had  assumed  of  late,  said  : 
"  The  secret  conference,  methinks,  is  over  at  last.  I 
suppose  the  stone  may  now  be  removed ;  go  ye  men, 
and  see  that  it  be  done." 

But  the  knight,  incensed  at  her  forwardness,  gave 

G 


98  UNDINE 

orders,  shortly  and  decisively,  that  the  stone  should  be 
left  where  it  was  ;  and  he  uttered  some  reproof  likewise 
to  Bertalda  for  her  behaviour  towards  his  wife.  Where- 
upon the  workmen  went  away,  smiling  and  well- 
satisfied  ;  and  Bertalda,  pale  with  rage,  hurried  to  her 
room. 

The  hour  of  supper  arrived  and,  behold,  they  waited 
in  vain  for  Bertalda.  They  sent  to  summon  her,  but 
the  servant  found  her  room  empty  and  only  brought 
back  a  sealed  letter  addressed  to  the  knight.  He 
opened  it  in  some  amazement  and  read  as  follows  : 
"  I  am  but  a  fisher-girl — I  know  it  well  ;  and  shame 
holdeth  me  fast.  If  I  forgot  it  for  a  moment,  I  will 
atone  by  going  to  the  miserable  cottage  of  my  parents 
Live  happy  with  thy  beautiful  wife  !  " 

Now  Undine  was  much  distressed  thereat :  and  she 
earnestly  begged  Huldbrand  to  hasten  after  their 
friend  and  bring  her  back.  Alas,  there  was  no  need 
to  urge !  His  love  for  Bertalda  burst  out  anew. 
Hurrying  round  the  castle,  he  inquired  if  any  had 
seen  which  way  the  fugitive  had  gone.  Naught  could 
he  learn,  and  he  was  already  on  his  horse  in  the  castle- 
yard,  resolved  at  a  venture  to  take  the  road  by  which 
he  had  brought  Bertalda  hither,  when,  of  a  sudden, 
a  page  came  up  and  assured  him  that  he  had  met  the 
lady  on  the  path  to  the  Black  Valley.  Like  an  arrow, 
the  knight  sped  through  the  gateway  in  the  direction 
pointed  out  to  him;  nor  did  he  hear  Undine's  voice  of 
agony,  as  she  called  to  him  from  the  window :  "  The 


AT  CASTLE  RINGSTETTEN 


99 


Black  Valley !  Oh,  go  not  there,  Huldbrand,  go  not 
there!  or  else,  for  Heaven's  sake,  take  me  too!" 
And  when  she  saw  that  she  cried  in  vain,  she  ordered 
her  white  palfrey  to  be  saddled  forthwith,  and  rode 
after  the  knight.  Nor  did  she  permit  any  servant  to 
accompany  her. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE  BLACK  VALLEY 

Now  the  Black  Valley  lieth  deep  within  the  moun- 
tains. What  name  it  may  bear  now  I  know  not ;  at 
that  time  the  country  people  gave  it  this  title  because 
of  the  deep  gloom  that  the  tall  trees,  chiefly  fir-trees, 
threw  over  the  ravine.  Even  the  brook  bubbling 
between  the  rocks  had  a  black  look,  and  was  far  less 
joyous  in  its  flow  than  streams  that  have  the  blue  sky 
over  them.  And  now,  in  the  darkening  twilight,  it 
ran  yet  more  wild  and  gloomy  beneath  the  hills. 

With  no  little  anxious  care  the  knight  rode  along 
the  edge  of  the  brook ;  at  one  moment  he  feared  that 
by  delay  he  might  allow  the  fugitive  to  get  too  far  in 
advance,  and  at  the  next,  that  in  his  overhaste  he 
might  pass  her  by  in  some  hiding-place.  He  had 
meanwhile  penetrated  far  into  the  valley  and  hoped 
soon  to  win  his  quest,  if  so  be  that  he  were  on  the  right 
track.  The  fear,  indeed,  that  this  might  not  be  the 
case,  made  his  heart  beat  fast  with  dread.  How,  he 


100 


Bertalda  in  the  Black  Valley 


THE  BLACK  VALLEY  101 

asked  himself,  might  Bertalda  fare,  should  he  fail  to 
find  her,  throughout  the  stormy  night  which  lowered 
so  threateningly  over  the  valley  ?  At  length  some- 
thing white  gleaming  through  the  branches  on  the 
slope  of  the  mountain  caught  his  eye,  and  he  thought 
he  recognised  Bertalda's  dress.  But  when  he  turned 
in  that  direction  his  horse  refused  to  advance  and  reared 
furiously  ;  and  the  knight,  because  he  was  unwilling  to 
lose  a  moment,  and  also  because  he  saw  that  the  brush- 
wood opened  no  passage  for  him  on  horseback,  dis- 
mounted. Fastening  his  snorting  and  terrified  horse 
to  an  elm-tree,  he  worked  his  way  cautiously  through 
the  bushes.  On  his  forehead  and  cheeks  the  branches 
shed  the  cold  drops  of  evening  dew ;  distant  thunder 
growled  beyond  the  mountains  ;  and  all  looked  so  wild 
that  he  began  to  feel  a  dread  of  the  white  figure,  now 
lying  only  a  short  distance  from  him  on  the  ground. 
Still  right  plainly  he  could  see  that  it  was  a  woman, 
either  asleep  or  in  a  swoon,  and  that  she  wore  long 
white  robes  such  as  Bertalda  had  worn  that  day. 
Close  to  her  he  stepped,  rustled  the  branches,  and  let 
his  sword  fall  with  a  clatter.  She  did  not  move. 

"  Bertalda ! "  he  cried,  first  softly,  then  louder  and 
louder.  She  did  not  hear.  At  last,  in  answer  to  a 
yet  louder  appeal  to  her  name,  a  hollow  echo  from  the 
mountain  caverns  repeated  "  Bertalda ! "  But  the 
sleeper  awoke  not.  He  bent  over  her,  but  the  gloom 
of  the  ravine  and  the  darkness  of  coming  night  did 
not  allow  him  to  recognise  her  features. 


102  UNDINE 

And  now  a  strange  thing  chanced.  As  with 
sickening  dread  he  stooped  still  closer  over  her,  a 
flash  of  lightning  shot  across  the  valley,  and  he  saw 
before  him  a  face  distorted  and  hideous,  while  a 
hollow  voice  exclaimed,  "Kiss  me,  thou  love-sick 
fool!" 

Huldbrand  sprang  up  with  a  cry,  and  the  hideous 
figure  rose  with  him. 

"Go  home,"  it  muttered,  "  unholy  spirits  are  abroad. 
Go  home,  or  I  shall  claim  thee  !  "  and  it  caught  at  him 
with  its  long  white  arms.  Thereupon  the  knight 
recovered  himself. 

"  Malicious  Kiihleborn,"  he  cried,  "  thy  tricks  are 
vain,  I  know  thy  goblin  arts.  There,  take  thy  kiss  !  " 
And  he  struck  his  sword  madly  against  the  figure. 
But  it  vanished  like  vapour,  and  a  drenching  spray 
left  the  knight  in  no  manner  of  doubt  as  to  who  his 
enemy  might  be. 

"  He  would  fain  scare  me  away  from  Bertalda,"  he 
said  aloud.  "  Doubtless  he  thinks  to  frighten  me 
with  his  foolish  pranks,  and  to  force  me  to  abandon 
the  helpless  girl  to  his  vengeance.  But  that  he  shall 
not  do.  Poor,  weak  spirit  as  he  is,  he  is  powerless  to 
understand  what  a  strong  man's  heart  can  dare,  when 
once  he  is  firmly  resolved  in  purpose."  He  felt  the 
truth  of  his  words  and  they  brought  him  fresh  courage. 
Fortune  herself,  too,  or  so  it  seemed,  was  on  his  side, 
for  no  sooner  did  he  reach  his  tethered  horse  than  he 
heard,  distinctly  enough,  Bertalda's  moaning  voice  at 


THE  BLACK  VALLEY  103 

no  great  distance,  and  through  the  growing  tumult  of 
thunder  and  storm  he  could  catch  the  sound  of  her 
sobs.  Hurrying  forthwith  to  the  spot,  he  found  her. 
She  was  trying  to  climb  the  side  of  the  hill,  so  that 
she  might  at  least  escape  the  awful  darkness  of  the 
valley.  As  he  came  with  loving  words  towards  her, 
all  her  pride  and  strength  of  resolve  fainted  and  failed 
before  the  delight  of  seeing  the  friend,  who  was  so 
dear  to  her,  close  at  hand  to  rescue  her  from  her 
terrible  loneliness.  "Once  more,"  she  thought,  "the 
happy  life  of  the  castle  holds  out  to  me  its  arms.  I 
can  but  yield."  So  she  followed  the  knight  unresist- 
ing, but  so  wearied  was  she  that  Huldbrand  was  right 
glad  to  have  his  horse  to  carry  her.  In  all  haste  he 
untethered  him  in  order  to  put  the  fugitive  on  his 
back,  and  thus,  holding  the  reins  with  all  care,  he 
hoped  to  win  his  way  through  the  uncertain  shades  of 
the  valley. 

Howbeit  the  wild  apparition  of  Kiihleborn  had  made 
the  horse  mad  with  terror.  Scarce  might  the  knight 
himself  have  mounted  and  ridden  so  ungovernable  a 
beast ;  but  to  put  the  trembling  Bertalda  on  him  was 
wholly  beyond  his  power.  So  they  resolved,  perforce, 
to  go  home  on  foot.  Drawing  the  horse  after  him  by 
the  bridle,  the  knight  supported  Bertalda  with  his 
other  hand,  and  she,  on  her  part,  made  brave  show  to 
pass  as  quickly  as  might  be  through  the  ravine.  But 
weariness  weighed  her  down  like  lead,  and  her  limbs 
trembled — partly  because  of  the  past  terror  she  had 


io4  UNDINE 

undergone  through  Kuhleborn's  pursuit,  and  partly 
because  of  her  continued  alarm  at  the  howling  of  the 
storm  and  the  pealing  of  the  thunder  in  the  wooded 
mountains. 

And,  at  the  last,  she  could  no  more.  She  slid  down 
from  the  knight's  supporting  arm  and  sank  on  the 
moss. 

"Leave  me  here,  my  noble  lord,"  cried  she;  "I 
must  needs  suffer  the  penalty  of  my  folly  and  die  here 
in  weariness  and  fear." 

"  Nay,  nay,  sweet  friend,"  quoth  he,  "  say  not  so, 
for  desert  thee  I  will  not."  And  so  saying  he 
endeavoured  all  the  more  to  curb  his  furious  horse, 
who,  rearing  and  plunging  worse  than  before,  must 
now  be  kept  at  some  distance  from  Bertalda  lest  he 
might  increase  her  discomfiture.  So  the  knight  with- 
drew a  few  paces,  but  no  sooner  had  he  gone  than  she 
called  after  him  in  most  piteous  sort  as  though  in  truth 
he  were  going  to  leave  her  in  this  solitary  wilderness. 
What  course  to  take  he  knew  not ;  he  was  utterly  at 
a  loss.  Gladly  enough  would  he  have  given  the 
excited  beast  his  liberty  to  gallop  away  into  the  night 
and  so  exhaust  his  terror.  Yet  he  feared  that  in  this 
narrow  defile  he  might  come  thundering  with  his 
iron-shod  hoofs  over  the  very  spot  where  Bertalda 
lay. 

Now  he  was  in  this  sore  distress  and  perplexity, 
when  he  heard  with  unspeakable  relief  the  sound  of  a 
waggon  driven  slowly  down  the  stony  road  behind 


THE  BLACK  VALLEY  105 

them.  He  called  out  for  help  ;  a  man's  voice  answered, 
bidding  him  have  patience  but  promising  assistance  ; 
and  soon  after  two  grey  horses  appeared  through  the 
bushes,  and  beside  them  the  driver  in  the  white 
smock  of  a  carter  ;  next  a  great  white  tilt  came  into 
sight  covering  the  goods  that  lay  in  the  waggon.  At 
a  sign  from  their  master  the  obedient  horses  halted, 
and  the  waggoner  coming  towards  the  knight  helped 
him  to  soothe  his  frightened  animal. 

"  Full  well  I  see,"  quoth  he,  "what  aileththe  beast. 
When  I  first  travelled  this  way  it  fared  no  better  with 
my  horses.  An  evil  water-spirit  in  truth  haunteth  the 
place,  and  he  taketh  delight  in  mischief  of  this  sort. 
But  I  have  learned  a  spell :  if  thou  wilt  let  me  whisper 
it  in  thy  horse's  ear,  he  will  forthwith  stand  as  quiet  as 
my  greys  yonder." 

"  Try  thy  spell  and  quickly !  "  cried  the  knight 
impatiently.  Then  the  man  drew  down  to  him  the 
head  of  the  restive  horse  and  whispered  something  in 
his  ear.  Straightway  the  animal  stood  still  and 
subdued,  and  his  heaving  flanks  bedewed  with  sweat 
alone  bore  witness  to  his  former  fury.  Huldbrand 
had  no  time  to  inquire  how  all  this  had  come  about ; 
he  agreed  with  the  carter  that  he  should  take  Bertalda 
in  his  waggon — in  which,  so  the  man  assured  him, 
there  were  a  quantity  of  soft  cotton  bales — and  so  bear 
her  back  to  Castle  Ringstetten.  He  himself  was 
minded  to  follow  on  horseback,  but  the  horse  appeared 
too  exhausted  by  his  past  fury  to  carry  his  master  so 


io6  UNDINE 

far,  and  the  waggoner  persuaded  him  to  take  his  place 
beside  Bertalda.     The  horse  could  be  fastened  behind. 

"We  are  going  down  hill,"  said  the  man,  "  and  that 
will  be  easy  work  for  my  greys."  Thereupon  the 
knight  agreed  and  entered  the  waggon  with  Bertalda ; 
the  horse  followed  patiently  behind,  and  the  waggoner 
steadily  and  watchfully  walked  by  the  side. 

Amid  the  stillness  of  the  night,  now  that  the  dark- 
ness had  fallen  and  the  subsiding  storm  seemed  to 
grow  more  and  more  remote,  Huldbrand  and  Bertalda, 
in  the  pleasant  sense  of  renewed  security  and  a  right 
happy  escape,  began  to  converse  in  low  and  confiden- 
tial tones.  Caressingly  he  rallied  her  on  her  daring 
flight,  and  she  excused  herself  full  humbly ;  but  from 
every  word  she  said  there  shone  as  it  were  a  light 
which  revealed  amidst  the  darkness  and  mystery  that 
her  love  was  truly  his.  The  meaning  of  her  words 
was  felt  rather  than  heard,  and  it  was  to  the  meaning 
only  that  the  knight  responded.  Of  a  sudden  the 
waggoner  gave  a  shout:  "  Step  high,  my  greys,"  cried 
he ;  "  lift  up  your  feet !  Step  together  and  bethink  ye 
who  ye  are ! "  The  knight  looked  forth  from  the 
waggon  and  saw  how  the  horses  were  stepping  into 
the  midst  of  a  foaming  stream  ;  already  they  were 
almost  swimming,  while  the  waggon  wheels  turned 
and  flashed  like  the  wheels  of  a  mill,  and  the  driver 
had  got  up  in  front  to  escape  the  swelling  waters. 

"  Why,  what  sort  of  road  is  this  ?  "  cried  Huldbrand, 
"  it  goeth  into  the  very  middle  of  the  stream !  " 


THE  BLACK  VALLEY  107 

11  By  no  means,"  said  their  guide,  with  a  laugh,  "it 
is  just  the  reverse  ;  the  stream  goeth  into  the  very 
middle  of  our  road.  Look  round  and  see  how  over- 
whelming is  the  flood."  And,  indeed,  the  whole 
valley  was  filled  with  a  rushing  and  heaving  torrent 
of  water,  which  was  visibly  swelling  higher  and 
higher. 

"  lTis  Kiihleborn,  the  evil  spirit,"  cried  the  knight, 
"  he  wishes  to  drown  us  !  Hast  thou  no  spell  against 
him,  my  friend  ?  " 

11  Ay,  ay,"  returned  he.  "I  know  one  well  enough. 
But  I  may  not  and  cannot  use  it  until  thou  knowest 
who  I  am." 

"  Is  this  a  time  for  riddles  ?  "  shouted  Huldbrand. 
"The  flood  is  rising  higher  and  higher;  and  what 
mattereth  it  to  me  who  thou  art  ?  " 

"  Nathless,  it  doth  matter,"  quoth  the  waggoner, 
"  for  I  am  Kiihleborn  !  "  Thereupon  he  thrust  a  dis- 
torted face  into  the  waggon  with  a  grin.  But,  lo  and 
behold,  the  waggon  was  a  waggon  no  longer !  The 
horses  were  no  longer  horses — all  melted  into  foam 
and  vanished  in  the  seething  waters.  Even  the  wag- 
goner himself  towering  over  them  as  some  gigantic 
billow,  and  dragging  down  the  horse  beneath  the 
waves  despite  his  struggles,  rose  and  swelled  higher 
and  higher  over  the  drowning  pair  of  lovers,  like  a 
mighty  column  of  water,  threatening  to  bury  them  for 
ever. 

And  then,  hark,   'twas  Undine's  voice  which  rang 


io8  UNDINE 

through  the  uproar  ;  'twas  Undine  herself  who,  as  the 
moon  swam  clear  of  the  clouds,  was  seen  standing  on 
the  heights  above  the  valley.  'Twas  she,  in  sooth, 
who  rebuked  and  threatened  the  floods  below  ;  and  the 
menacing  column  of  water  vanished,  murmuring  and 
muttering,  and  the  streams  flowed  gently  away  in  the 
moonlight.  Like  a  white  dove  Undine  flew  down 
from  the  height ;  she  laid  hold  on  the  knight  and 
Bertalda,  and  bore  them  with  her  to  a  green  and 
grassy  spot  on  the  hill.  There  she  refreshed  their 
weariness  and  dispelled  their  fears ;  and  when  she 
had  helped  Bertalda  to  mount  her  white  palfrey, 
they  all  three  made  their  way  back,  as  best  they 
might,  to  Castle  Ringstetten. 


CHAPTER  XV 

HOW  THEY  JOURNEYED 
TO  VIENNA 

Now  the  story  halteth  for  a  space.  After 
the  last  adventure  all  was  quiet  and 
peaceful  at  the  castle.  More  and  more 
was  the  knight  conscious  of  that  heavenly 
goodness  in  his  wife,  which  had  been  so 
nobly  proved  in  her  hasty  pursuit  and 
rescue  of  them  from  the  Black  Valley, 
where  Kiihleborn's  power  began  again. 
And  Undine  felt  that  inner  peace  and 
security  which  never  fail  the  heart  that 
knows  itself  to  be  in  the  right  way.  Besides,  in  the 
newly-awakened  love  and  esteem  of  her  husband,  many 
a  gleam  of  hope  and  joy  shone  upon  her.  As  for 
Bertalda,  she  seemed  humble,  grateful,  modest,  with- 
out claiming  any  merit  for  such  virtues.  It  might  chance 
that  either  Huldbrand  or  Undine  sought  now  and 
again  to  explain  to  her  why  the  fountain  was  covered, 
or  the  real  meaning  of  the  Black  Valley  adventure ; 
but  she  always  earnestly  begged  them  to  spare  her. 
"  For,"  said  she,  "  the  fountain  makes  me  feel  ashamed, 

109 


no  UNDINE 

and  the  Black  Valley  terrifies  me."  Naught  more  of 
either  then  did  she  learn.  And,  indeed,  why  should 
she  ?  Peace  and  joy  had  visibly  come  to  stay  at 
Castle  Ringstetten.  Real  security  was  theirs,  or  so 
they  deemed — why  should  life  produce  aught  but 
flowers  and  fruit  ? 

In  conditions  like  these  winter  had  come  and  passed 
away,  and  spring  with  her  green  buds  and  blue  sky 
visited  the  happy  inmates  of  the  castle.  Spring  was 
in  tune  with  their  hearts  and  their  hearts  with  spring. 
What  wonder  then  if  her  storks  and  swallows  awoke 
in  them  also  a  wish  to  travel  ? 

One  day,  as  they  were  sauntering  to  one  of  the 
sources  of  the  Danube,  Huldbrand  spoke  of  the 
majesty  of  the  noble  river,  and  how  it  flowed  on,  ever 
widening,  through  fertile  lands;  how  the  glory  of 
Vienna  rose  on  its  banks,  and  new  might  and  loveliness 
were  revealed  in  every  tract  and  reach  of  its  course. 

"It  must  be  glorious  to  sail  down  the  river  to 
Vienna,"  exclaimed  Bertalda  ;  then  falling  back  on  her 
present  mood  of  humbleness  and  reserve,  she  coloured 
deeply  and  was  silent. 

Undine  was  much  touched  thereby,  and  with  an 
eager  wish  to  please  her  friend,  she  said  :  "  What 
hinders  us  from  taking  this  voyage  ?  "  Bertalda  was 
delighted,  and  forthwith  both  began  to  picture  to  them- 
selves in  the  most  glowing  colours  the  delight  of  travel 
on  the  Danube.  Hulbrand  also  gladly  agreed ;  yet 
once  he  whispered  in  Undine's  ear : 


HOW  THEY  JOURNEYED  TO  VIENNA    in 

"  But  Kiihleborn  regains  his  power  lower  down  the 
river ! " 

"  Let  him  come,"  quoth  Undine  gaily,  "  I  shall  be 
there,  and  he  tries  none  of  his  tricks  before  me !  " 
Thus  the  last  obstacle  disappeared.  When  they  had 
prepared  themselves  for  the  voyage,  they  set  out  with 
the  best  courage  and  the  brightest  hopes. 

Howbeit,meseemeth  for  us  mortal  men  there  is  little 
to  marvel  at,  if  things  should  turn  out  contrary  to  our 
hopes.  The  evil  power  which  lurks  to  destroy  us  is 
wont  to  lull  to  sleep  its  chosen  victim  with  sweet  songs 
and  golden  delusions,  while  the  saving  messenger 
from  heaven  often  knocks  at  our  door  with  sharp  and 
terrifying  summons. 

Now  for  the  first  few  days  of  the  voyage  down  the 
Danube,  their  cup  of  happiness  seemed  full.  Every- 
thing grew  more  and  more  beautiful  the  farther  they 
sailed  down  the  proudly-flowing  river.  Nathless,  in  a 
country  which  smiled  so  sweetly  and  was  so  full  of  the 
promise  of  pure  delight,  lo,  Ktihleborn,  with  his 
ungovernable  malice,  began  openly  to  show  his  powers 
of  interference.  It  is  true  that  he  essayed  naught  but 
irritating  tricks,  for  Undine  would  often  rebuke  the 
rising  waves  or  the  contrary  winds,  and  then  for  an 
instant  the  power  of  the  enemy  was  humbled.  But  the 
attacks  began  again  and  again.  Undine's  reproofs 
became  necessary  in  such  sort  that  the  pleasure  of  the 
little  party  was  completely  destroyed.  Moreover  the 
boatmen  were  continually  whispering  and  looking  with 


ii2  UNDINE 

a  certain  mistrust  at  their  passengers ;  while  even  the 
servants  began  to  have  forebodings  and  watched  their 
masters  with  suspicious  glances. 

Huldbrand  would  often  say  to  himself:  "Certes, 
like  should  only  wed  with  like  ;  this  cometh  of  an  union 
with  a  mermaid !  "  And  making  excuses  for  himself, 
as  we  are  all  wont  to  do,  he  would  bethink  him  : 
*'  I  knew  not  in  truth  that  she  was  a  sea-maiden  ; 
mine  is  the  misfortune  that  all  my  life  is  let  and 
hindered  by  the  freaks  of  her  mad  kindred.  It  is  no 
fault  of  mine !  "  Such  thoughts  seemed  to  hearten 
him  ;  yet,  on  the  other  hand,  his  ill-humour  grew  and 
he  felt  something  like  animosity  against  Undine.  She, 
poor  thing,  understood  well  enough  what  his  angry 
looks  signified.  One  evening,  exhausted  with  these 
outbursts  of  ill-temper,  and  her  constant  efforts  to 
frustrate  Kiihleborn's  devices,  she  fell  into  a  deep 
slumber,  rocked  soothingly  by  the  gentle  motion  of  the 
boat. 

But  hardly  had  she  closed  her  eyes,  when  every  one 
on  board  saw,  wherever  he  turned,  a  horrible  human 
head.  It  rose  out  of  the  waves,  not  like  that  of  a 
person  swimming,  but  perfectly  perpendicular,  as 
though  kept  upright  on  the  watery  surface,  and  float- 
ing along  in  the  same  course  as  the  boat.  Each  man 
wanted  to  point  out  to  his  fellow  the  cause  of  his 
alarm,  but  each  found  on  other  faces  the  same  horror 
— only  that  his  neighbour's  hands  and  eyes  were 
turned  in  a  different  direction  from  that  where  the 


HOW  THEY  JOURNEYED  TO  VIENNA     113 

phantom,  half  laughing  and  half  threatening,  rose 
before  him.  But  when  they  wished  to  make  each 
other  understand,  and  were  all  crying  out  "  Look 
there ! " — "  No — there ! "  all  the  horrible  heads  together 
and  at  the  same  moment  appeared  to  their  view,  and 
the  whole  river  swarmed  with  hideous  apparitions. 
The  universal  shriek  of  fear  awoke  Undine,  and,  as 
she  opened  her  eyes,  the  wild  crowd  of  ugly  faces 
vanished. 

But  as  for  Huldbrand,  it  irked  him  sore  to  see  such 
jugglery.  He  had  well  nigh  burst  out  in  a  storm  of 
indignation ;  but  Undine  implored  him  in  humble  and 
soothing  tones  :  "  For  God's  sake,"  saith  she,  "  bethink 
thee,  my  husband !  We  are  on  the  water,  do  not  be 
angry  with  me  now ! "  So  the  knight  held  his  peace 
and  sat  down  with  brooding  thoughts.  Undine  whis- 
pered in  his  ear.  "  Were  it  not  better,  my  love,  that 
we  gave  up  this  foolish  voyage,  and  returned  in  peace 
to  Ringstetten  ?  " 

But  Huldbrand  murmured  moodily  :  "So  I  must 
needs  be  a  prisoner  in  my  own  castle,  and  only  able 
to  breathe  so  long  as  the  fountain  is  closed  !  Would 

that    thy    mad    kindred "      Hereupon     Undine 

lovingly  pressed  her  hand  on  his  lips ;  and  he  paused, 
musing  in  silence  over  much  that  Undine  had  before 
told  him. 

Meantime,  Bertalda  had  given  herself  up  to  many 
strange  thoughts.  Much  of  Undine's  origin  she  knew, 
and  yet  not  everything  ;  as  to  Kiihleborn,  he  above 

H 


ii4  UNDINE 

all  had  remained  for  her  a  terrible  and  insoluble 
puzzle.  Indeed,  she  had  never  even  heard  his  name. 
Pondering  thus,  she  unclasped,  half  conscious  of  the 
act,  a  gold  necklace  which  Huldbrand  had  recently 
bought  for  her  from  a  travelling  merchant ;  dreamily 
she  drew  it  along  the  surface  of  the  water,  pleased 
with  the  bright  glimmer  it  cast  upon  the  evening- 
tinted  stream.  Of  a  sudden,  a  huge  hand  rose  out 
of  the  Danube,  caught  hold  of  the  necklace,  and  drew 
it  down  beneath  the  waters.  Bertalda  screamed  aloud, 
and  a  mocking  laugh  echoed  from  the  depths  of  the 
stream.  And  now  the  wrath  of  Huldbrand  burst  all 
bounds.  Starting  up,  he  cursed  the  river,  cursed  all 
those  who  dared  to  thrust  themselves  into  his  family 
life,  and  challenged  them,  whether  water-spirits  or 
sirens,  to  come  and  face  his  naked  sword. 

And  Bertalda  went  on  weeping  for  her  lost  and 
much  loved  toy,  adding  thereby  fuel  to  the  flame  of 
the  knight's  anger  ;  while  Undine  held  her  hand  over 
the  side  of  the  vessel,  dipping  it  into  the  water  and 
softly  murmuring  to  herself.  Now  and  again  she  in- 
terrupted her  strange  and  mysterious  whisper  by 
entreaties  to  her  husband. 

"  Chide  me  not  here,  my  best  beloved ! "  she  said, 
"  Chide  whom  else  thou  wilt ;  but  not  me  and  here. 
Thou  knowest  why  !  "  And,  in  truth,  he  kept  back  the 
words  of  anger  that  were  trembling  on  his  tongue. 
Presently  in  her  wet  hand  she  brought  up  from  beneath 
the  water  a  beautiful  coral  necklace,  so  beautiful  and 


Soon  she  was  lost  to  sight  in  the  Danube 


HOW  THEY  JOURNEYED  TO  VIENNA    115 

so  brilliant  that  it  dazzled  the  eyes  of  all  who  saw  it. 
"Take  this,"  she  said,  as  she  held  it  out  to  Bertalda. 
11 1  have  had  this  fetched  from  below  to  make 
amends  to  thee.  Do  not  grieve  any  more,  my  poor 
child!" 

But  the  knight  sprang  between  them.  He  tore  the 
pretty  trinket  from  Undine's  hand,  flung  it  into  the 
river,  and  exclaimed  in  passionate  rage  :  "  So  then," 
cried  he,  "  thou  still  hast  dealings  with  them  ?  In 
the  name  of  all  the  witches,  abide  with  them,  thou 
and  thy  presents,  and  leave  us  mortals  in  peace, 
sorceress ! " 

Poor  Undine  looked  at  him  with  fixed  and  tearful 
eyes,  her  hand  still  outstretched,  as  when  she  had 
offered  her  present  so  lovingly  to  Bertalda.  Then 
she  wept,  ever  more  and  more  bitterly,  like  an  inno- 
cent child  who  feels  that  it  has  been  sorely  misused. 
At  length,  wearied  and  outworn,  she  murmured : 
"  Alas !  sweet  friend,  I  must  needs  bid  thee  farewell ! 
They  shall  do  thee  no  harm  ;  only  remain  true,  so  that 
I  may  have  the  power  to  protect  thee  from  them. 
But  for  myself,  I  must  go — go  hence  in  the  springtide 
of  my  life.  Oh,  what  hast  thou  done !  What  hast 
thou  done !  Alas  !  Alas ! " 

And  so  Undine  vanished  over  the  side  of  the  vessel. 
Whether  she  plunged  into  the  stream  or  was  drawn 
into  it  they  knew  not ;  it  might  have  been  either  or 
perhaps  somewhat  of  both.  But  full  soon  she  was 
lost  to  sight  in  the  Danube  ;  only  a  few  little  waves 


UNDINE 

seemed  to  whisper  and  sob  round  the  boat,  as  though 
they  murmured  :  "  Alas  !  alas !     Be  faithful ! " 

And  Huldbrand  lay  on  the  deck,  weeping  bitterly, 
till  a  deep  swoon  cast  a  veil  of  merciful  oblivion  over 
his  unhappiness. 


CHAPTER   XVI 

HOW  IT  FARED  FURTHER  WITH  HULDBRAND 

HEREUPON  the  story  must  again  have  some  pause. 
All  men  know  that  sorrow  is  short-lived.  But  is  it  well 
or  ill  that  it  should  be  so  ?  And  by  sorrow  the  writer 
means  the  deeper  sort — that  which  springs  from  the 
very  sources  of  life,  which  so  unites  itself  with  the  lost 
objects  of  our  love  that  they  are  no  longer  lost,  and 
which  consecrates  their  image  as  a  sacred  treasure, 
until  that  final  bourn  be  reached  which  they  have 
gained  before  us.  Should  such  a  sorrow  as  this  be 
brief?  Many  men,  it  is  true,  preserve  these  sacred 
memories,  but  their  feeling  is  no  longer  that  of  the 
first  keen  grief.  Other  new  images  have  thronged 
between,  and  we  end  by  learning  how  all  earthly 
things  are  transitory,  even  grief  itself.  And  for  this 
reason  must  one  say :  "  Alas !  that  our  mourning 
should  be  of  such  short  duration ! " 

117 


ii8  UNDINE 

Now  the  lord  of  Ringstetten  had  this  experience 
sure  enough — whether  for  his  good  the  sequel  of  this 
story  shall  tell.  At  first  he  could  do  naught  but  weep, 
as  bitterly  as  Undine  had  wept  when  he  tore  from  her 
hand  that  bright  trinket  which  was  to  mend  all  that  was 
awry.  And  then  he  was  fain  to  stretch  out  his  hand 
as  she  had  done,  and  weep  again  like  her.  It  was  his 
secret  hope  that  his  bodily  frame  might  melt  and 
dissolve  in  tears — and  hath  not  a  similar  hope,  God 
wot,  appealed  to  many,  with  a  sad  sort  of  joy,  what 
time  their  affliction  is  heavy  ?  Nor  was  he  alone  in 
his  grief.  Bertalda  wept  with  him,  and  they  lived  a 
long  while  quietly  together  at  Castle  Ringstetten, 
cherishing  Undine's  memory,  and  almost  wholly  for- 
getting their  former  love.  And  because  these  things 
were  so,  the  good  Undine  often  visited  Huldbrand  in 
his  dreams,  caressing  him  with  many  tender  kisses, 
and  then  going  away  silently  and  with  tears.  When 
he  woke,  he  scarcely  knew  why  his  cheeks  were  wet ; 
were  they  her  tears  or  his  own  ? 

Nathless,  as  time  passed,  these  dream-visions 
became  rarer  and  the  knight's  grief  grew  less 
acute.  Still  it  might  well  have  been  that  he  would 
have  cherished  no  other  wish  than  thus  to  think  of 
Undine  and  talk  of  her,  had  not  the  old  fisherman 
appeared  of  a  sudden  one  day  at  the  castle,  and 
solemnly  claimed  Bertalda  once  more  as  his  child. 
He  had  heard  full  soon  of  Undine's  disappearance,  and 
he  straightway  had  resolved  that  no  longer  should 


HOW  IT  FARED  WITH  HULDBRAND     119 

Bertalda  live  at  the  castle,  now  that  the  knight  had 
lost  his  wife.  "Whether  my  daughter  love  me  or 
no,"  quoth  he,  "  concerneth  me  not ;  it  is  her  honour 
that  is  at  stake,  and  where  that  speaketh  clear,  there  is 
naught  further  to  be  said." 

Now  when  the  knight  learnt  that  the  fisherman  was 
thus  minded,  and  when  he  bethought  himself  how 
lonely  his  life  would  be  among  the  halls  and  galleries 
of  the  empty  castle  with  Bertalda  gone  away,  full 
soon  he  felt  anew  what  until  now  he  had  forgotten  in 
his  grief  for  Undine — his  love  for  the  beautiful 
Bertalda.  Certes,  for  a  marriage  thus  suggested  and 
proposed,  the  fisherman  had  but  little  inclination. 
Undine  had  been  exceedingly  dear  to  the  old  man, 
nor  yet  could  he  hold  it  for  certain  that  she  was  dead. 
And  if  in  sooth  her  body  lay  cold  and  stark  at  the 
bottom  of  the  Danube,  or  had  floated  away  with  the 
current  into  the  ocean,  even  so,  on  Bertalda's  head 
for  sure  rested  the  blame  for  her  death.  How  could 
it  be  seemly  that  she  should  step  into  the  dead  wife's 
shoes  ?  Yet,  for  the  knight,  too,  the  fisherman  had  a 
strong  liking  ;  while  to  his  daughter's  prayers  he  must 
needs  also  pay  some  heed,  now  that  she  wept  for 
the  loss  of  Undine.  For  one  cause  or  another  his 
consent  must  have  been  given  at  the  last,  for  he 
stayed  on  at  the  castle  without  making  further  ado. 
Moreover  a  messenger  was  sent  for  Father  Heilmann. 
As  he  had  made  Huldbrand  and  Undine  man  and  wife 
in  happy  days  gone  by,  so  now  for  the  second  marriage 


120  UNDINE 

of  the  knight  'twere  seemly  that  he  should  be  summoned 
to  the  castle. 

Howbeit  the  holy  man  was  sore  perplexed  when 
the  summons  arrived.  So  great  was  his  distempera- 
ture  that  no  sooner  had  he  read  Huldbrand's  letter, 
than  he  girt  himself  for  his  journey  with  far  greater 
expedition  than  the  messenger  had  used  in  his  coming. 
What  time  his  breath  failed  him  or  his  aged  limbs 
refused  their  service,  he  would  say  to  himself,  "  Fail 
not,  body  of  mine,  fail  not  till  the  goal  be  reached ! 
Perchance  I  may  yet  be  soon  enough  to  prevent  a 
crime !  "  And  thus  with  renewed  strength  he  would 
press  and  urge  himself  on,  without  stop  or  stay,  until 
late  one  evening  he  found  himself  at  last  in  the  shady 
courtyard  of  Ringstetten. 

Now  it  chanced  that  the  betrothed  pair  were  sitting 
side  by  side  under  the  trees,  while  the  fisherman  sate 
near,  deep  in  many  thoughts.  Seeing  Father  Heil- 
mann,  they  sprang  up  and  pressed  round  him  with 
warm  welcome.  But  he  was  sparing  of  speech,  only 
begging  Huldbrand  to  go  with  him  into  the  castle. 
When  the  knight  hesitated  and  marvelled  somewhat 
at  the  grave  summons,  the  father  spoke  : 

"  My  lord  of  Ringstetten,"  quoth  he,  "  to  speak  to 
thee  in  private  was  my  desire,  but  why  should  I 
persist  in  it  any  longer  ?  What  I  have  to  say 
concerneth  equally  Bertalda  and  the  fisherman,  and 
what  must  be  heard  at  some  time  had  better  be  heard 
forthwith.  Art  thou  then  so  sure,  Knight  Huldbrand, 


HOW  IT  FARED  WITH  HULDBRAND     121 

that  thy  first  wife  is  dead  ?  For  myself,  I  cannot  think 
so.  Naught  indeed  will  I  say  of  the  mystery  that 
surroundeth  her,  for  of  that  I  know  nothing  certain. 
But  that  she  was  a  faithful  and  God-fearing  wife,  of 
that  at  least  there  is  no  doubt.  Now,  for  the  last 
fortnight  she  hath  stood  in  dreams  at  my  bedside, 
wringing  her  hands  in  anguish  and  murmuring  at  my 
ear  :  '  Good  Father,  stay  him  from  his  purpose  !  I  am 
yet  living.  Ah !  Save  his  life  !  Save  his  soul ! ' 
What  this  night  vision  might  mean  passed  my  com- 
prehension, until  thy  messenger  came  for  me.  Then 
I  hurried  hither  with  all  imaginable  speed — not  to 
unite,  but  to  separate,  those  who  must  on  no  account 
be  joined.  Leave  her,  Huldbrand !  Leave  him, 
Bertalda!  For  he  belongs  still  to  another.  Dost 
thou  not  see  how  pale  his  cheek  is  through  grief  for 
his  lost  wife  ?  He  hath  no  bridegroom's  air,  and  a 
voice  telleth  me  that,  an  thou  leave  him  not,  thou  wilt 
never  be  happy." 

Now  Father  Heilmann  spoke  the  truth,  and  the 
three  listeners  knew  it  in  their  innermost  hearts  ;  yet 
would  they  not  believe  it.  Even  the  old  fisherman 
was  under  a  spell,  for  he  thought  that  the  issue  must 
needs  be  what  they  had  settled  in  their  recent  discus- 
sions. So  they  all  set  their  wild  and  reckless  haste 
against  the  priest's  warnings  in  such  sort  that  the  holy 
father  must  perforce  leave  the  castle  with  a  sad  heart. 
So  little  indeed  was  it  in  his  heart  to  stay  that  he 
might  not  accept  even  a  night's  shelter,  or  take  the 


122  UNDINE 

refreshment  offered  to  him.  As  for  Huldbrand,  he 
told  himself  that  the  priest  was  naught  but  a  dreamer  ; 
and  with  the  dawn  of  the  following  day  he  sent  for  a 
father  from  the  nearest  monastery,  who,  without  hesi- 
tation, promised  to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony  in 
a  few  days. 


CHAPTER  XVII 


THE  KNIGHT'S  DREAM 

IT  was  between  night  and  the  dawn  of  day  that  a 
vision  came  to  Huldbrand  as  he  lay  on  his  bed,  half 
waking  and  half  sleeping.  Whensoe'er  he  composed 
himself  to  full  slumber,  lo,  a  terror  crept  over  him 
and  scared  away  his  rest,  so  fearful  were  the  spectres 
that  haunted  him.  Yet,  if  he  tried  to  rouse  himself  in 
good  earnest,  behold,  swans'  wings  seemed  to  fan  his 
head,  and  waters  softly  murmured  at  his  ear,  until  he 
sank  back  again  into  half-conscious  dreaminess  and 
delusion.  At  length  deep  sleep  must  have  overcome 
him,  for  it  seemed  as  though  he  were  borne  on  the 

123 


I24  UNDINE 

wings  of  many  swans  far  over  land  and  sea,  they  ever 
singing  most  sweetly  the  while. 

"  The  music  of  the  swan !  the  music  of  the  swan ! " 
so  the  words  rang  in  his  brain — "doth  it  not  ever  pre- 
sage death  ?  "  But  it  would  seem  that  it  had  another 
meaning.  He  appeared  to  be  floating  over  the 
Mediterranean,  and  a  swan  was  singing  in  his  ear  : 
"  This  is  the  Mediterranean  Sea."  And  whilst  he 
gazed  down  upon  the  waters  below,  lo,  they  became 
as  clear  as  crystal  so  that  he  might  see  to  the  depths. 
Full  pleased  was  he,  for  he  could  see  Undine  sitting 
beneath  the  crystal  vault.  Tears,  it  is  true,  were  in 
her  eyes,  and  much  sadder  was  her  look  than  in  the 
happy  days  when  first  they  had  lived  in  Castle  Ring- 
stetten,  and  afterwards  too,  just  before  the  ill-starred 
voyage  on  the  Danube.  And  the  knight  must  needs 
ponder  these  things  in  his  mind  very  deeply  and 
intently.  Undine,  it  would  appear,  did  not  perceive 
him.  But  he  saw  Kiihleborn  come  up  to  her  with 
intent  to  reprove  her  for  her  tears.  Whereat  she  drew 
herself  up,  and  faced  him  with  such  dignity  that  he 
almost  shrank  back  before  her  look. 

"I  know  full  well,"  quoth  she,  "that  beneath  the 
waters  is  my  home  ;  but  my  soul  is  still  mine,  and 
'therefore  I  may  well  weep,  albeit  that  thou  canst  not 
know  what  such  tears  mean.  They,  too,  are  blessed, 
as  all  is  blessed  to  one  who  hath  a  true  soul." 

He  shook  his  head,  for  he  believed  her  not ;  then, 
bethinking  himself  of  somewhat,  he  spoke  : 


He  could  see  Undine  beneath  the  crystal  vault 


THE  KNIGHT'S  DREAM  125 

"  Nathless,  the  laws  of  our  element  hold  thee  bound, 
my  niece  ;  an  he  marrieth  again  and  break  his  troth, 
thou  must  needs  take  away  his  life." 

"A  widower  he  is,"  saith  Undine,  "to  this  very 
hour,  and  his  sad  heart  holdeth  me  dear." 

"  Nay,  but  at  the  same  time  he  hath  already 
exchanged  vows  with  another  ; "  and  Ktihleborn 
laughed  right  scornfully.  "  Wait  but  a  day  or  two, 
and  the  priest  will  have  given  his  blessing  on  the  pair, 
and  then — it  is  thy  duty  to  go  up  to  earth  and  give 
death  to  the  twice-wedded  !  " 

"  That  may  not  be  ; "  and  Undine  laughed  in  her 
turn,  "  for  with  my  own  hands  have  I  sealed  up  the 
fountain  against  myself  and  my  race." 

11  Ah,  but  what  if  he  leave  his  castle,"  said  Kiihle- 
born,  "or  have  the  fountain  opened?  He  thinketh 
but  little  of  such  things." 

"  'Tis  for  this  very  reason,"  Undine  replied,  smiling 
through  her  tears,  "that  he  is  now  hovering  in  spirit 
over  the  Mediterranean,  and  is  hearing  this  talk  of 
ours,  in  a  warning  and  bodeful  dream.  With  manifest 
intent  have  I  arranged  it  all." 

Then  Ktihleborn  looked  up  at  the  knight ;  mutter- 
ing threats  and  stamping  his  feet  in  furious  rage,  he 
shot  like  an  arrow  beneath  the  waters.  And  so  wild 
was  his  anger  that  he  seemed  to  swell  and  grow  to 
the  size  of  some  huge  whale.  And  now  again  did  the 
swans  commence  their  song,  flapping  their  wings  for 
flight ;  and  the  knight  soared,  or  so  it  appeared  to 


126  UNDINE 

him,  ovei  mountains  and  streams  till  once  more 
he  was  in  the  Castle  Ringstetten  and  awoke  on  his 
bed. 

In  truth  'twas  on  his  bed  that  he  opened  his  eyes, 
and  his  servant,  coming  in,  told  him  that  Father  Heil- 
mann  still  lingered  in  the  neighbourhood.  He  had 
found  him,  said  he,  the  evening  before  in  a  hut  which 
he  had  built  for  himself  of  branches  and  covered  with 
moss  and  brushwood.  When  the  priest  was  asked 
what  he  did  there,  since  he  refused  to  give  the  mar- 
riage-blessing, the  answer  came  in  strange  fashion : 

"  There  are  other  blessings,"  said  he,  "  than  those  at 
the  marriage-altar.  I  go  not  to  the  bridals ;  but 
mayhap,  at  some  other  rite  I  shall  be  present.  For 
all  things  alike  must  we  hold  ourselves  prepared. 
Marrying  and  mourning  are  not  so  diverse — as  all 
may  see  who  do  not  wilfully  shut  their  eyes." 

Now  words  like  these  and  his  strange  dream  gave 
the  knight  much  reason  for  anxious  thought.  But  it 
is  not  an  easy  thing,  God  wot,  to  break  off  a  matter 
that  a  man  hath  once  regarded  as  certain.  And  so  all 
remained  as  before. 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

HOW  THE  KNIGHT  HULDBRAND  IS  MARRIED 

THE  story  now  telleth  of  the  marriage  feast  at  Castle 
Ringstetten,  how  it  was  held  and  what  cheer  they  had 
who  were  present  thereat.  Bethink  thee  of  a  multi- 
tude of  bright  and  pleasant  things  heaped  together, 
and  over  them  all  a  veil  of  mourning  spread.  Would 
not  the  gloom  of  the  covering  make  mockery  of  all 
their  brilliance  ?  Would  it  be  happiness,  think  you, 
on  which  you  looked  ?  Would  it  not  rather  suggest 
the  nothingness  of  all  human  joys  ?  Now  it  is  true 
that  no  ghostly  visitants  disturbed  the  festal  company, 
for  the  castle,  as  we  well  know,  had  been  made  safe 

127 


i28  UNDINE 

against  the  mischief  of  angry  water-sprites.  But  that 
of  which  the  knight  was  ware,  ay,  and  the  fisherman, 
too,  and  all  the  guests,  was  that  the  chief  person  of 
the  feast  was  absent,  and  that  the  chief  person  could 
be  none  other  than  the  gentle  and  much  loved  Undine. 
If  so  be  that  a  door  opened,  all  eyes  turned,  willy- 
nilly,  in  that  direction;  and  if  it  were  but  the  steward 
with  new  dishes,  or  the  cellarer  with  a  flask  of  still 
richer  wine,  each  would  look  down  sadly,  and  the  few 
flashes  of  wit  and  merriment  which  had  passed  to  and 
fro  would  be  quenched  in  sad  memories.  Not  but 
what  the  bride  was  happy  enough,  just  because  she 
was  less  troubled  by  thought ;  yet  ever  to  her,  I  ween, 
it  seemed  passing  strange  that  she  should  be  sitting  at 
the  head  of  the  table,  with  green  wreath  and  gold 
embroidered  gown,  while  Undine  lay  a  corpse,  cold 
and  stiff,  at  the  bottom  of  the  Danube,  or  else  was 
driven  far  by  the  current  into  the  mighty  ocean.  Her 
father  had  spoken  some  such  words  as  these,  and  ever 
since  they  had  rung  in  her  ears.  To-day,  above  all, 
'twas  little  likely  that  they  would  be  forgotten. 

Early  enough  in  the  evening  the  company  went 
their  ways,  sadly  and  gloomily.  It  was  not  the  im- 
patience of  the  bridegroom  which  dismissed  them,  but 
their  own  joyless  mood  and  their  forebodings  of  evil. 
Bertalda  retired  with  her  women,  the  knight  with  his 
attendants  ;  but  the  wedding  was  too  sad  for  the  usual 
gay  escort  of  bridesmaids  and  bridegroom's  men. 

Now  Bertalda  was  all  for  more  cheerful  thoughts  ; 


HOW  KNIGHT  HULDBRAND  IS  MARRIED   129 

therefore  had  she  ordered  the  magnificent  jewels  which 
Huldbrand  had  given  her,  together  with  rich  apparel 
and  veils,  to  be  spread  out  before  her,  that  she  might 
choose  from  them  the  brightest  and  most  beautiful  for 
next  morning's  attire.  Her  waiting- women  were  not 
slow  to  wish  their  mistress  well ;  in  flattering  words  they 
vaunted  high  the  beauty  of  the  bride,  and  added 
praise  to  praise,  until  at  length  Bertalda  looked  at  a 
mirror  and  sighed. 

"See  ye  not,"  she  said,  "the  freckles  which  dis- 
figure my  throat  ?  "  They  looked  and  saw  that  it  was 
even  as  their  mistress  had  said — only  they  called  them 
beauty-spots,  mere  tiny  blemishes,  which  set  off  the 
exceeding  whiteness  of  her  skin.  But  Bertalda  shook 
her  head.  "A  defect  is  a  defect,"  quoth  she.  "And 
I  could  remove  them,"  she  sighed,  "  only  the  fountain 
is  closed  whence  conies  the  precious  water  with  its 
purifying  power.  Oh!  if  I  had  but  a  flask  of  it  to-day!" 

Thereupon  one  of  the  waiting-women  laughed.  "Is 
that  all  ?  "  she  said,  as  she  slipped  out  of  the  room. 

"Surely,"  said  Bertalda,  at  once  surprised  and  well 
pleased,  "she  will  not  be  so  mad  as  to  have  the  stone 
removed  from  the  fountain  this  very  evening  ?  "  Full 
soon  they  listened  and  heard  how  men  were  crossing 
the  castle  yard,  and  they  could  espy  from  the  window 
the  waiting-woman  busying  herself  with  her  task,  and 
leading  straight  to  the  fountain  men  who  carried  levers 
and  other  tools  on  their  shoulders.  And  Bertalda 
smiled. 


I3o  UNDINE 

"  Well-pleased  am  I,"  saith  she,  "  if  only  the  work 
taketh  not  too  long."  She  was  happy  in  that  now  a 
mere  look  from  her  could  effect  what  had  long  since 
been  so  irritatingly  denied,  and  she  had  no  eyes  save 
for  the  progress  of  the  work  in  the  moonlit  castle 
yard. 

It  was  no  light  task,  be  sure,  to  raise  the  enormous 
stone,  and  now  and  again  one  of  the  men  would  sigh 
as  he  remembered  that  he  was  undoing  the  work  of 
his  beloved  first  mistress.  Nathless,  the  labour  was 
not  so  severe  as  they  had  imagined.  It  seemed  as  if 
some  power  within  the  fountain  were  aiding  them  to 
raise  the  stone.  The  workmen  stared  at  each  other 
and  marvelled.  "Why,"  said  they,  "it  is  all  one  as 
though  the  water  within  had  become  a  springing 
fountain ! "  And  indeed  the  stone  rose  higher  and 
higher,  and,  almost  by  itself,  it  rolled  slowly  down  upon 
the  pavement,  making  a  hollow  sound.  Forthwith 
from  the  fountain's  mouth  there  rose  as  it  were  a  white 
column  of  water,  and  at  first  they  were  minded  to  think 
that  it  had  in  truth  become  a  springing  fountain  ;  but 
afterwards  they  perceived  that  it  was  a  pale  woman's 
figure  which  rose,  all  veiled  in  white.  It  was  weeping 
bitter  tears,  and  wringing  its  hands  distractedly,  as  it 
paced  with  slow  and  solemn  steps  to  the  castle  building. 
Swiftly  the  servants  fled  from  the  spring ;  pale  and 
stiff  with  horror,  the  bride  with  her  attendants  watched 
the  scene  from  her  window.  And  now  the  figure  had 
come  close  below  her  room,  and  as  it  looked  up  at  her 


HOW  KNIGHT  HULDBRAND  IS  MARRIED    131 

with  choked  sobs,  Bertalda  thought  she  recognised 
beneath  the  veil  the  white  face  of  Undine.  But  on 
paced  the  weeping  figure,  slow  and  sad  and  reluctant, 
as  though  passing  to  a  place  of  judgment.  Bertalda 
shrieked  out  to  her  women  to  call  the  knight,  but  none 
of  them  dared  to  move ;  and  even  the  bride  herself 
was  struck  with  silence,  as  though  scared  at  the  sound 
of  her  own  voice. 

Motionless,  like  statues,  they  stood  at  the  window  ; 
and  the  wanderer  from  another  world  reached  the 
castle  and  passed  up  the  familiar  stairs  and  through 
the  well-known  halls,  still  with  silent  tears.  Alas! 
'twas  with  a  different  step  that  once  she  had  wandered 
there ! 

Now  Huldbrand  had  dismissed  his  men,  and  stood, 
half-dressed,  before  a  mirror,  revolving  bitter  thoughts  ; 
a  torch  burnt  dimly  at  his  side.  Of  a  sudden  there  was 
a  light  tap  at  the  door — just  so  light  a  tap  was  Undine 
wont  to  give  in  merry  sport. 

"  Nay,  'tis  but  my  fancy,"  said  the  knight  to  him- 
self, "  I  must  to  my  wedding  chamber." 

"Ay,  ay,"  said  a  tearful  voice  without,  "  thou  must 
indeed,  but  the  bed  is  cold !  "  Thereupon  he  saw  in 
the  mirror  how  the  door  opened  slowly,  slowly,  and  a 
white  figure  entered  and  carefully  shut  the  door  after 
her. 

"They  have  opened  the  fountain,"  and  her  voice 
was  soft  and  low.  "  And  now  I  am  here  and  thou 
must  die."  Straightway  in  his  beating  heart  he  knew 


1 32  UNDINE 

full  well  that  it  must  be  so;  but  he  covered  his  face 
with  his  hands. 

"Make  me  not  mad  with  terror,"  he  whispered,  "in 
my  hour  of  death.  If  thou  hidest  a  hideous  face 
behind  that  veil,  raise  it  not.  Take  my  life,  but  let 
me  not  see  thy  face ! " 

The  white  figure  made  answer.  "  I  am  as  fair  as 
when  thou  didst  woo  me  on  the  promontory.  Wilt 
thou  not  look  upon  me  once  more  ?  " 

"Ah,"  sighed  Huldbrand,  "  if  only  it  might  be  so  ! 
and  I  might  die  by  a  kiss  from  thy  lips !  " 

"Right  glad  am  I,  my  beloved!"  saith  she ;  she 
threw  back  her  veil  and  her  face  smiled  forth,  divinely 
beautiful.  And,  trembling  with  love  and  with  the 
nearness  of  death,  the  knight  bent  towards  her,  and 
she  kissed  him  with  a  holy  kiss.  But  she  did  not 
again  draw  back,  she  pressed  him  to  her  ever  closer 
and  closer,  and  wept  as  if  she  would  weep  away  her 
soul.  Tears  rushed  into  Huldbrand's  eyes,  and  his 
breast  surged  and  heaved,  till,  at  the  last,  breath  failed 
him,  and  he  fell  back  softly  from  Undine's  arms  upon 
the  pillows  of  his  couch — dead. 

"  My  tears  have  been  his  death,"  she  said  to  some 
servants  who  met  her  in  the  ante-chamber.  This  is  all 
she  spake,  and  passing  them  by  as  they  stared  on  her 
with  terror,  she  went  slowly  out  towards  the  fountain. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

HOW  THE  KNIGHT  HULDBRAND  WAS  BURIED 

Now  the  story  draweth  to  a  close.  As  soon  as  the 
news  of  the  lord  of  Ringstetten's  death  had  been  noised 
about  the  district,  Father  Heilmann  returned  to  the 
castle ;  and  it  so  chanced  that  his  arrival  timed 
with  the  speedy  departure  of  the  monk  who  had 
married  the  unhappy  pair.  The  latter  had,  indeed, 
fled  from  the  gates  with  some  haste,  for  he  was  over- 
whelmed with  fear  and  horror. 

"  It  is  well ;  "  said  Heilmann,  when  he  was  informed 
of  this,  "  now  my  duties  begin,  and  I  need  no  associate." 
Thereupon,  it  was  his  first  task  to  bring  consolation  to 
the  widowed  bride — albeit  that  little  enough  could 
his  words  avail  for  so  worldly  and  so  thoughtless  a 
spirit.  The  old  fisherman,  on  the  contrary,  he  found 

133 


134  UNDINE 

deeply  grieved,  it  is  true,  but  far  more  resigned  to  the 
fate  that  had  befallen  his  daughter  and  son-in-law  ;  for, 
while  Bertalda  did  not  scruple  to  charge  Undine  with 
sorcery  and  murder,  the  old  man  was  in  far  better  case. 

"It  could  be  no  other  than  it  is,"  he  said  calmly ; 
"  I  see  in  this  naught  but  the  judgment  of  God  ;  nor 
hath  any  heart  been  more  deeply  riven  by  Huldbrand's 
death  than  that  of  her  who  was  the  cause — the  poor, 
forsaken  Undine ! ' 

And  now  the  funeral  rites  had  to  be  arranged,  such 
as  might  befit  the  rank  of  the  dead  lord.  In  the  village 
churchyard,  filled  with  the  graves  of  his  grandsires — the 
church  itself  having  been  endowed  with  many  fair  pri- 
vileges and  gifts  by  his  ancestors  and  himself — Knight 
Huldbrand  was  to  find  burial.  Already  his  shield  and 
helmet  lay  on  the  coffin,  to  be  lowered  with  it  into 
the  grave,  for  Sir  Huldbrand  of  Ringstetten,  you 
must  know,  was  the  last  of  his  race ;  the  mourners 
began  their  sorrowful  march,  singing  requiems  for  the 
dead,  under  the  calm  blue  canopy  of  heaven.  Father 
Heilmann  walked  in  advance,  bearing  a  crucifix  ;  last 
came  the  disconsolate  Bertalda,  supported  by  her  old 
father.  Of  a  sudden,  among  the  black-robed  atten- 
dants in  the  widows'  train,  lo,  there  was  seen  a  snow- 
white  figure,  closely  veiled,  and  wringing  her  hands  in 
the  deepest  grief.  Those  near  whom  she  walked  were 
seized  with  terror  and  retreated  either  backward  or  to 
one  side,  and  thus  the  alarm  spread  itself  to  others  to 
whom  the  white  stranger  was  now  nearest,  and  it 


HOW  KNIGHT  HULDBRAND  WAS  BURIED  135 

went  hard  with  them  to  avoid  a  panic.  Indeed,  some 
of  the  soldiers,  escorting  the  dead,  ventured  to  address 
themselves  to  the  figure,  and  were  all  for  removing  it 
from  the  procession.  But  it  seemed  to  vanish  from 
their  hands,  and  yet  the  next  moment  it  was  seen 
again  walking  with  slow  and  solemn  step  in  the 
melancholy  cortege.  At  the  last,  inasmuch  as  the 
company  was  for  ever  moving  to  the  right  or  the  left, 
it  came  close  behind  Bertalda,  and  walked  so  slow 
and  quiet  that  the  widow  saw  it  not,  and  it  was  left 
undisturbed. 

So  at  length  they  came  to  the  churchyard,  and 
round  the  open  grave  the  procession  formed  a  circle. 
Then  it  was  that  Bertalda  saw  her  unbidden  com- 
panion, and  starting  up,  half  in  anger  and  half  in  fear, 
bade  her  leave  the  knight's  last  resting-place.  But 
the  veiled  figure  did  not  move.  She  gently  shook  her 
head,  and  raised  her  hands  as  if  in  humble  entreaty  to 
Bertalda,  who,  on  her  part,  could  not  choose  but  think 
with  how  gentle  a  grace  Undine  had  held  out  to  her 
the  coral  necklace  on  the  Danube.  Then  Father 
Heilmann  made  a  sign  and  commanded  silence  so  that 
all  might  pray  with  mute  supplication  over  the  body 
which  was  now  being  committed  to  the  earth.  Bertalda 
knelt  in  silence ;  and  there  was  not  a  soul  that  knelt 
not;  even  the  grave-diggers  bending  themselves  on 
their  knees,  when  their  task  was  done.  And  when 
they  rose  again,  the  white  stranger  had  vanished. 

But,  lo !  a  miracle  ;  for  on  the  spot  where  she  had 


136  UNDINE 

knelt  there  gushed  out  of  the  turf  a  little  silver  spring. 
It  rippled  on  till  it  had  all  but  encircled  the  knight's 
grave  ;  then  it  ran  further  and  fell  into  a  lake  which 
lay  by  the  side  of  the  burial-place.  And  even  to  this 
day  the  villagers  show  the  spring,  and  cherish  the  firm 
belief  that  it  is  poor,  rejected  Undine  herself,  who 
thus  holds  in  fast  embrace  her  husband  with  her  loving 
arms. 

Thus  endeth  the  story  of  Undine  and  of  the  Knight 
Huldbrand. 


TEXT   i'RINTEU    IN   GREAT   BRITAIN    BY   RICHARD   CLAY   AND   SONS,   LTD., 

BRUNSWICK    ST.,    STAMFORD    ST.,    AND 

DUNGAY,    SUFFOLK. 


